- GRANT NUMBER: 101023389–BIO4CARE–H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
- PROJECT TITLE: Green synthesis of sustainable BIO-sourced multi-functional ingredient for skin CARE applications (BIO4CARE)
- PROJECT LEADER: Oihana Gordobil, PhD
- PROJECT SUPERVISOR: Anna Sandak, PhD
- PERIOD: 01.05.2021 – 01.05.2023
- BUDGET: €150,040.32
- FINANCING: EU, Horizon 2020–H2020-MSCA-IF-2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (Standard European Fellowships)
- COORDINATOR: InnoRenew CoE (Slovenia)
Cosmetics and personal care products are essential commodities of daily life, and their use has increased exponentially. The personal care market is driven by skin care products that are designed for beautifying, preventing skin from imperfections and protecting skin against the damaging effect of UV rays. Skin care formulations have water and oil as the main components in addition to other chemical functional ingredients, like surfactants, emulsion stabilizers, skin conditioning agents, preservatives, fragrances and active ingredients like antioxidants and UV filters.
Regular use of skin care products results in chemical compounds continuously being released into the environment, which poses a serious threat to ecosystems and human health. Current social awareness and demand for cosmetic products based on natural ingredients are forcing the industry and scientific community to search for safe and sustainable solutions. To that end, research on lignin polymer’s diverse intrinsic functional and bioactive properties has led to increased interest in this bio-sourced compound for skin care applications. Lignin is the second most abundant natural polymer present on our planet. It is naturally present in trees and plants. Lignin is also generated as an undervalued by-product from kraft-pulping operations—the global method for pulp manufacture, producing more than 70 million tons of kraft lignin annually.
BIO4CARE tackles challenging concepts with innovative solutions to develop an efficient lignin-based multi-functional ingredient able to work as a surfactant, UV filter, antioxidant and preservative for cosmetics and health care products by utilizing the valorization of an undervalued kraft-pulping by-product.
InnoRenew CoE project activities
This is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowship awarded to Dr Oihana Gordobil to carry out the BIO4CARE project under the mentorship of Dr Anna Sandak within InnoRenew CoE’s Wood Modification research group. In addition to her scientific contributions, Dr Gordobil will mentor young researchers, organize events and manage projects under BIO4CARE’s umbrella at InnoRenew CoE.
Learn more on the BIO4CARE project website.
