This new hub, which will create proprietary, bio-based alternatives to traditional ingredients and strengthen the multinational’s global innovation and manufacturing network, is set to open in the town of Olen and will manufacture bio-based raw materials.
Biotechnology uses living organisms, such as plants, yeast, or bacteria, to produce raw materials while preserving biodiversity and natural resources.
At the BioTech Hub, ELC’s engineers and scientists will “manufacture active biomolecules from plant, yeast, and bacteria sources” that will be used as raw materials for thousands of skin care products across ELC’s portfolio of brands.
The team in Belgium will partner closely with ELC’s Advanced Technologies Pioneering (ATP) scientists in New York-based Research & Development (R&D) labs to work on projects related to fermentation and bio-based materials and collaboratively innovate for the future.
They will also work closely with ELC’s manufacturing teams in Belgium to pilot and manufacture the production of these raw materials at scale.
“Our prestige beauty products depend on the highest quality raw materials. By producing our own biotechnology-based materials at one of our main manufacturing campuses, we are able to manufacture at-scale in a more responsible way,” said Roberto Canevari, Executive VP for global supply chain, ELC. “This is a great example of how our end-to-end Value Chain is partnering to advance innovation and sustainability across the enterprise.”
“Increased capacity for in-house produced bio-based raw materials”
The new space includes highly specialised technology and equipment and will build upon ELC’s expertise in fermentation and creating biomolecules for its products.
Various ELC brands already work with bio-based materials and this site will help the company further scale its biotech efforts.
According to Executive VP for research, product and innovation officer at ELC, Carl Haney, this new value chain site will serve as a critical space for ELC scientists to embed sustainability at the start of the product development process and build upon the company’s strength in fermentation and proprietary ingredients.
The space will significantly increase ELC’s capacity for the in-house production of bio-based raw materials and further optimise the company’s production processes across EMEA and even globally.
It has been undergoing production testing over the past several months and will move into commercial production beginning in 2025.
The site will be led by Caroline Paulussen, PhD, who has extensive microbiology and engineering experience.
ELC has been manufacturing products at in Belgium since 1965, when it opened its first international manufacturing facility. Over the years, the company has expanded its presence. The business noted that Belgium is recogniaed as a biotech leader in Europe, and the opening of ELC’s BioTech Hub underscores ELC’s commitment to innovation in the region.
“Our BioTech Hub will support our efforts to provide more responsible and cutting-edge beauty solutions to consumers,” said Jamal Chamariq, senior VP EMEA UK&I and travel retail, global supply chain, ELC. “The location of the new centre in Belgium also will enable us to partner more closely with leaders in biotechnology, further enhancing our innovation ecosystem in Europe and beyond.”