From laboratory to the chemist’s – the 2nd Kosmotrend Scientific Conference at the Silesian University of Technology
How to turn tofu waste into a nutritional serum? Does nature inspire the chemistry of cosmetics? How to assess their effectiveness and what about it? These are some of the issues discussed during the 2nd National Scientific Conference Kosmotrend, which was organized by scientists of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology in cooperation with the cosmetics industry. The event took place on March the 5th at the University’s Education and Congress Centre.
The conference is a platform for the exchange of knowledge between the world of science and leaders of the cosmetics industry. The modern cosmetic industry is based on advanced chemical engineering and innovative technologies for acquiring active ingredients. The event brought together representatives of business, universities, and research institutes, as well as organizations dealing with legal regulations.
– Today Poland is the fifth largest cosmetic market in Europe, so it is safe to say that we are a cosmetic powerhouse. This success is due, among others, to a strong scientific background and a high level of innovation, i.e. effective cooperation between science and industry, - said Dr Anna Oborska, director of the Polish Association of Cosmetic and Detergent Industry, which actively participates in the creation of new legislative provisions. - The industry is increasingly using the achievements of science, implementing them into new products and technologies. In turn, the scientific community learns to better understand the needs of the market and cooperate more flexibly with business, both parties really need each other.
The “Kosmotrend” Scientific Conference allows to present the effects of scientific research, learn about the possibilities of their practical applications or establish industry contacts. The topics of discussion panels, speeches and poster session focused on natural cosmetic raw materials.
– One of the promising directions of development is raw materials from the waste of the food industry. Many active ingredients used in cosmetics can be obtained from plants, including those that are a by-product of other processes - emphasized Dr Eng. Daria Frączak, Director of the Institute of Renewable Raw Materials Chemistry of the Łukasiewicz Research Network. – In our institute we conducted research on waste from grape pressing plants, which can be a valuable source of active ingredients with skin care and beneficial properties. There are already technologies that allow processing even plastics into chemical substances that can be used in cosmetics – she added, stressing that the key issue is the ultra purity of the ingredients obtained.
One of the interesting trends in obtaining active ingredients in cosmetics is upcycling, i.e. obtaining higher quality raw materials from waste from another industry. Some of the most interesting examples discussed during the conference are cosmetics created on the basis of ingredients obtained from whey remaining after the production of tofu created by the Symbiosis Laboratory operating in cooperation with scientists from the Poznań University of Technology.
– It is worth emphasizing that from 1 kg of tofu, as much as 19 kg of sour waste comes, strongly burdening the environment and really contributing to the emission of greenhouse gases, which so far have not been managed meaningfully. We have patented a technology that has allowed us to create full-fledged and effective cosmetic products, including body serum, shampoo, and hair conditioner, which are already available on the market and are very popular among customers – said Dr Ewa Kilian-Pięta, President and founder of the Symbiosis Laboratory sp. z o.o.
– The idea of this conference is primarily to connect representatives of industry with scientists, so as to create a network of effective cooperation – emphasized Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Wojciech Simka, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology, who organized the conference for the second time. Thanks to such events, we have become more recognizable in the cosmetic environment and have established completely new relationships and partnerships. This is important both for our faculty, where new technologies are created, and for the entire University – added the Dean.
The Faculty of Chemistry has successfully cooperated with Melaleuca, among others, and in cooperation with which the technology of obtaining spilantol, an active ingredient of plant origin, which is a competition for synthetic botox, has already been patented.
– We are very pleased with the cooperation with the Silesian University of Technology, especially with the Faculty of Chemistry, we are finalizing another project as part of the implementation doctorate, we have already developed recipes of new cosmetic products, which will be tested in cooperation with the Silesian University of Technology and in the future will also be tested by independent institutes – enumerated Jarosław Bilik, President of Melaleuca Poland Sp. z o.o., emphasizing the University’s support in submitting a patent application.
The “Kosmotrend” conference has also been noticed and is supported by the industry media environment.
- Chemists and biotechnologists dealing with plant raw materials very often inspire large cosmetic companies, and our publications are often a starting point for popularizing specific ingredients on a large scale. On a daily basis, I have contact mainly with ready-made products, which is why I am all the more happy to participate in such an event – said Katarzyna Wilczyńska, editor-in-chief of Aesthetic Cosmetology. - Our role is also to search for such ‘gems,’ promising raw materials and innovative solutions, - she added.
The 2nd Kosmotrend Conference confirmed that the Silesian University of Technology is an important meeting place for experts who create the future of the cosmetics industry based on science, sustainable development, and innovative technologies. The next edition will take place in two years; the organizers do not exclude that it will expand its reach on the international arena.
