"We are excited to recognize innovative leaders in the cosmetics and personal care market who have chosen Zemea for its unique and sustainable performance capabilities," says DuPont’s vice president of marketing and sales, Steve Hurff.
Zemea is a 100 percent biobased ingredient made from corn sugar through fermentation, it is specifically developed for the cosmetics industry in the form of moisturising agents and emollients.
DuPont Tate & Lyle reckons it as an environmentally sustainable alternative to petroleum-based glycols and glycerin that can; "tackle skin irritation, improves moisturization and has excellent aesthetic properties."
Eligibility
According to the ingredients supplier, those eligible enough to apply must either have commercialized a finished product for retail or launched another ingredient that contains Zemea Propanediol from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012.
All applications are set to be judged, compared and evaluated by a panel of experienced leaders in the cosmetics industry. This year’s judges include Steve Herman, chair-elect of the New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists and adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Tom Branna, editor of HAPPI magazine, and DuPont Tate & Lyle's, Steve Hurff.
The winning company will be announced on Feb. 25, 2013, and is set to receive an engraved plaque and a contribution of $1,500 will be made on its behalf to an approved charity of its choice.
Complete details including the nomination form can be found here.
Worldwide distribution
The ingredients supplier only recently expanded the distribution of Zemea propanediol from Europe and Asia to the South American market last year after it appointed Sarfam as its distributor.
“Brazil is one of the world’s most dynamic markets for cosmetics and personal care products with several segments enjoying double digit growth rates. The ability to have Sarfam supply Zemea locally is important to our customer base," said Rose Durham, marketing manager, DuPont Tate and Lyle at the time of the appointment.