A by-product from Probi’s manufacturing of probiotic dietary supplements is being used in a skin care product to be launched by Symrise in April 2022. By upcycling valuable fermentation media from probiotic fermentation, Probi says, it can improve production profitability and reduce its environmental footprint, while commercialising an additional ingredient.

SymFerment is a moisturising active ingredient which has been introduced at the in-cosmetic global trade fair in Paris in April 2022. The companies jointly developed the ingredient, which is based on a by-product from the production of probiotic dietary supplements. Probi has a turn-key supply commitment, the company says, from the extraction of the by-product to the finished format delivered to Symrise.

“By using a by-product from our regular production, our waste is upcycled and processed into new products. Part of the amount of water we use in production can therefore be reused. This is not only good for our gross margins in production but for use of resources in terms of water consumption,” said Andy McShea, COO, Probi.

“Consumers are increasingly asking for sustainable cosmetic products,” said Léa Schmidt, Global Product Manager at Symrise. “That’s why sustainability always forms the heart of our product development efforts. Thanks to the partnership with Probi, we can use valuable by-products from the production of probiotics to create effective ingredients such as SymFerment.”

“This is completely in line with our ambition to find new application areas in probiotics with the added benefit of reducing our environmental footprint. We see potential to develop this business further,” said Tom Rönnlund, CEO of Probi.