Nature inspires science
Representatives of academic circles and the cosmetics industry discussed the latest trends and challenges related to the use of natural ingredients in cosmetics at the Silesian University of Technology. The Faculty of Chemistry organized The First National Scientific Conference “Cosmotrend” – natural cosmetic raw materials, which took place on September 6th at the Education and Congress Centre of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice.
The idea of the conference was to integrate both academic and business environments, present the latest scientific research and the possibilities of their application in practice.
– “We want to interest representatives of the industry in what we do at our faculty “– said Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Wojciech Simka, the Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology. - “Dialogue between an industrial partner and a scientist is needed for the simple reason that we often speak different languages. Scientists focus on their solutions and ideas, often in isolation from economic analysis. This, in turn, is the basis of work in business, through dialogue we are able to reach a consensus and find solutions that will help lead to the commercialization of research” – emphasized the Dean.
The subject of the conference focused, among others, on the sources and methods of obtaining natural cosmetic raw materials, evaluation of the effectiveness of cosmetics, methods of analysis of active substances or legal regulations concerning natural cosmetic raw materials.
“Cooperation between science and industry in the cosmetics industry is absolutely crucial. More and more emphasis is placed on the effectiveness of cosmetic ingredients and products. Thanks to science, we, as producers of active ingredients, are able to better and better test these substances to confirm their effectiveness” – said Marcin Siekierski, from Provital Polska.
The participants of the conference also emphasized the issues related to environmental care.
–“ The trend of naturalness has always been present, but at the moment it is also developing due to sustainable development, we have to be responsible for the planet and many methods, but not all, of obtaining natural substances are methods safer for the environment than, for example, classical organic synthesis, not to mention catalytic processes, after which waste in the form of a catalyst is left.” – explained M.D. Eng. Katarzyna Pytkowska, Prof. of The Warsaw College of Engineering and Health in Warsaw.
– “During the conference, we discussed many topics concerning the use of ingredients of natural origin in the production of cosmetics. The results of their research were also presented by PhD students and students. It was very nice to meet in such a company and make interesting contacts” - concluded Dr Eng. Mirosława Grymel from the Faculty of Chemistry, organizer of the conference. – “I hope that the conference will be an inspiration for new ideas that will turn into interesting projects, which I wish to all participants. The cosmetics industry is an extremely dynamic industry, so it is certainly worth continuing such a form of meetings and discussions of representatives of science and the cosmetics industry to follow trends” – she added.
Scientists from the Faculty of Chemistry can boast of many projects that have been commercialized. Some of them were discussed during the conference - among others, the method of obtaining spilantol, a plant substance referred to in the cosmetics industry as natural botox.
– “Thanks to the ideas of scientists from the Silesian University of Technology - Dr Eng. Mirosława Grymel and Prof. Romana Mazurkiewicz - we managed to develop and patent a method of extraction of spilantol, an active substance from the acmella oleracea plant, whose effect on skin well-being has been confirmed by research” - said Jarosław Bilik, president of Melaleuca Poland sp. z o.o - a Gliwice based cosmetics company.
– The biggest success of the conference can be considered the creation of a platform for the exchange of views between representatives of science and business. From extremely interesting lectures, announcements, posters, as well as a discussion panel we learned what can inspire cosmetics chemistry, thanks to the vast experience of invited guests we could walk together with the participants on the road "from idea to industry", but above all we established numerous science-industry relations, which I hope will stay with us for a longer time - concluded Dr Eng. Jakub Adamek, professor of the Silesian University of Technology, organizer of the event.
