Eight players in the cosmetics industry have come together to form “DNA & Cosmetics”, a consortium whose objective is to guarantee the best possible traceability of plant raw materials. Using a scientific method based on DNA analysis, they plan to build the first reliable database that will guarantee the botanical authenticity of the plant resources used in their products.
The members of this consortium - Laboratoires Clarins, Codif Technologie Naturelle, Greentech, L’Oréal Research & Innovation, LVMH Recherche, Groupe Nuxe, Sederma, DNA Gensee - indicate they are willing to commit to more secure supplies and controlled exploitation of plant resources.
“This cooperative model responds to consumer expectations of transparency and the UN’s sustainable development goals,” they say.
On the basis of DNA analysis
When purchasing natural raw materials, how can we be sure that we have the right plant (guarantee the botanical family, genus and species)?
Securing supplies is one of the key issues for the consumer goods industry, and in particular for cosmetics, in line with the growing expectations of consumers in terms of safety, authenticity and transparency in connection with the application of the Nagoya protocol.
The DNA analysis technology allows us precisely this traceability. It ensures the identification of plant species and even varieties with great reliability by authenticating the species analyzed: this analysis allows us, for example, to distinguish the white lily (Lilium candidum) from the royal white lily (Lilium regale).
Scientific work on lavender, an emblematic species in the cosmetics and perfume sectors, is being undertaken by the consortium.
