Trade Kings Group commissions Zambia’s first glucose and starch plant.
Zambia inaugurated its first glucose and starch factory, a $110 million investment by Kingsworth Group Limited, a subsidiary of Trade Kings Group.
The plant will process 126,000 tons of maize annually to produce glucose, starch, and animal feed by-products.
The project aims to reduce Zambia’s $15 million annual imports of glucose and starch and strengthen local industrial capacity.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on October 21 inaugurated the country’s first industrial glucose and starch production plant in the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ). The $110 million facility was financed by Kingsworth Group Limited, part of the Zambian conglomerate Trade Kings Group.
The new factory marks a milestone for Zambia’s industrial sector, which has seen strong growth in food and beverage production. The facility will manufacture glucose and starch for use in the agro-processing and manufacturing industries, as well as animal feed by-products.
Although production capacity figures were not disclosed, company officials said the plant will process about 126,000 tons of maize each year.
Phil Daka, Trade Kings Group’s Executive Director for Corporate Affairs, said the plant will source maize from local farmers. “We are celebrating not only a factory, but an idea whose time has come,” Daka said. “This investment positions Zambia as the third producer of glucose and starch in Africa, after Egypt and South Africa.”
The project aims to strengthen local value chains and substitute imports to meet Zambia’s rising domestic demand for industrial ingredients. Between 2022 and 2024, Zambia imported an average of $11.7 million worth of glucose and $3 million of starch annually, according to Trade Map data.
Engineers built a new kind of concrete 2x stronger than the real thing.
The secret ingredient? Potato starch.
Engineers from the University of Manchester say their concrete is twice as strong as conventional concrete. The engineers believe future space construction will need this solution. Potato starch replaces human blood as a key ingredient in the new recipe. The University of Manchester’s “StarCrete” is twice as strong as traditional concrete, making it a potential solution as a building material for Mars. Add in some extraterrestrial dust and potato starch, and you have a potentially revolutionary new material.
In an article published in the journal Open Engineering, the research team showed that potato starch can act as a binder when mixed with simulated Mars dust to produce a concrete-like material reaching a compressive strength of 72 megapascals (MPa), over twice as strong as the 32 MPa seen in ordinary concrete. Of course, mix in moon dust instead and you can get StarCrete to 91 MPa.
This strength makes it a possible solution, according to the researchers, for a building solution on Mars as astronauts mix Martian soil with potato starch—and a pinch of salt, no joke—to give extra-terrestrial-suited concrete.
Earlier recipes from the team didn’t use potato starch, instead offering blood and urine as a binding agent to reach 40 MPa. Not every astronaut would be excited about continually draining their blood to build in space, though.
“Since we will be producing starch as food for astronauts, it made sense to look at that as a binding agent rather than human blood,” Aled Roberts, research fellow at the Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub and lead researcher on the project, says in a news release. “And anyway, astronauts probably don’t want to be living in houses made from scabs and urine”
Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a69031878/new-concrete-is-twice-as-strong/ and https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/eng-2022-0390/html
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Across the Middle East and Africa, the corn starch market was valued at approximately $1.3 billion in 2024.
Al Ghurair Foods, a division of the Al Ghurair Group — one of the UAE’s most diversified and pioneering business conglomerates — has announced the phased completion of the nation’s first-ever corn starch plant at Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad) by the first quarter of 2026.
Speaking at the inauguration of Propaper 2025 — the region’s leading B2B paper industry event in Dubai — Hamad Al Ghurair, vice-president of Al Ghurair Foods, said the project’s major civil and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) works have been substantially completed. Installation of processing equipment is currently underway, paving the way for a phased launch in early 2026. “We are targeting the rollout of our flagship corn starch product in the first quarter of 2026, followed by the introduction of additional products in subsequent phases,” Al Ghurair said.
The Kezad-based facility, spanning 13.6 hectares, will significantly reduce the UAE’s dependence on imported starch — currently valued at about $20 million annually. Once operational, it will supply local industries with a reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective alternative, enabling greater resilience in key manufacturing sectors. “Our primary focus will be on serving domestic and GCC markets while exploring opportunities in South Asia and key African economies,” Al Ghurair noted.
Corn starch is a critical input across multiple industries including food, pharmaceuticals, textiles, chemicals, packaging, and paper. Within the paper industry, starch enhances strength, printability, and coating quality — making it indispensable for manufacturers aiming to improve both performance and sustainability. “By establishing local starch production, we are strengthening the region’s industrial supply chains and supporting the shift toward greener, circular manufacturing models,” said Al Ghurair.
Across the Middle East and Africa, the corn starch market was valued at approximately $1.3 billion in 2024, with the UAE’s share at nearly $30 million. Analysts say demand is being driven by population growth, industrial diversification, and increasing preference for biodegradable and sustainable materials. The Al Ghurair facility, once operational, will position the UAE as a regional hub for starch production and downstream innovation.
The launch coincides with a regional pivot toward sustainability and recycling, particularly within the paper sector. Propaper 2025, which runs from October 13 to 15, has placed a strong emphasis on the circular economy, renewable energy, and waste reduction strategies. “Paper mills across the GCC are investing in renewables and recycling to mitigate their climate impact,” said Jeen Joshua, managing director of Verifair, the event organiser. “The rapid growth of Material Recovery Facilities and smaller sorting units feeding regional mills reflects the serious intent behind these sustainability efforts.”
According to industry estimates, cumulative investments in paper recycling and innovation projects across the GCC have reached nearly $200 million. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman lead this drive with major investments by Star Paper Mills ($54 million), Oman’s Kreyas Paper ($40 million), and MEPCO in Saudi Arabia. Other key projects include $5.5 million by Kimfay East Africa and $2.5 million by Tetra Pak–Union Paper Mills in Egypt.
Data from ENF Recycling indicates that there are now between 80 and 100 paper recycling plants operating across the Middle East and Africa, reflecting growing industry maturity. Grand View Research estimates the region’s waste recycling services market to be worth $3.46 billion by 2033, with the recycled paper segment alone valued at $715.6 million, according to Sper Research.
The convergence of industrial innovation, sustainability, and import substitution reflected in Al Ghurair’s Kezad project underscores the UAE’s industrial vision under the “Make it in the Emirates” initiative. As the country diversifies beyond hydrocarbons, such ventures are redefining its manufacturing base — anchoring future growth in value-added, sustainable industries, analysts said.
8th Annual EUstarch value chain and fermentation October 13-14 Berlin (Germany).
Agenda:
Day 1 12:30 Registration & Networking Lunch 13:25 Chairman’s Welcoming Remarks Simon Bentley, Managing Director Commoditia Ltd 13:30 Strengthening starch’s central role in the EU bioeconomy: Policy pathways for resilience, competitiveness, and market expansion Nellie Hajdu, Managing Director Starch Europe 14:00 EU wheat starch and vital wheat protein market Michael Andreae Jaeckering, Owner Jaeckering Mühlen- und Naehrmittelwerke GmbH 14:30 European potato starch market Andre Heilemann, Head of R&D Emsland-Stärke Gmbh 15:00 Discussion followed by Tea 15:45 Feeding the Future Starts With Seeing Clearly: How LCA and Transparency Guide Sustainable Land Use Dick van Beek, CEO Aminola 16:15 New clean label technology to modify starch Dr. Jovin Hasjim, Research and Development Engineer Roquette 16:45 Innovative egg replacer solutions with peas Cyril Francart, CEO FlavaPulse 17:15 Final Discussion. End of Day One. Followed by Networking Reception
Day 2 09:00 Chairman’s Welcome Remarks Henk Jaap Meijer, Director & Owner Meijer Consult BV 09:10 Macro and microeconomic forces shaping the starch value chain in a volatile blend of risk, tariffs disruption, and shifting demand patterns Simon Bentley, Managing Director Commoditia Ltd 09:40 Chemo-enzymatic extraction of dietary fibres from corn processing Prof. Francisco Vilaplana, Director of Food KTH Royal Institute of Technology 10:10 Discussion. Followed by Coffee Break 10:50 Valorising starch-based side streams into biomaterials Dr. Anne Lamp, CEO & Co-Founder traceless materials GmbH 11:20 Fermentation of food waste streams (potato processing) into i) Fatty acids; Scalability & LCA and carbon savings Niels van Stralen, Founder & Chief Growth Officer ChainCraft BV ii) Oil & Fats Jeroen Hugenholtz, Chief Technology Officer NoPalm Ingredients B.V. 12:10 Development of new applications and products for plant-based residual from petfood, feed to renewable chemicals Gert-Jan Hermanussen, Head of Procurement Looop Company 12:30 Discussion followed by Lunch 14:00 Sustainable protein consumption via fermentation processes i) Can precision fermentatively produced protein be the next big thing? Will van den Tweel, Project director Those Vegan Cowboys ii) Biomass fermentation of yeast to provide stability, protein loading and more to condiments & beverages Tomas Turner, CEO | Co-Founder Cosaic 15:00 Leveraging fermentation technology & combined AI to transform agricultural byproducts into nutritious and sustainable ingredients Bosco Emparanza Garcia, CEO & Founder Moa Foodtech 15:30 Clean label mycoprotein solutions from valorised agriwaste streams Iria Varela Campo, CEO & Cofounder ODS Protein 16:00 Final Discussion. Tea 17:00 End of conference
A corn deep processing plant with a capacity of 150,000 tons a year will be launched in Turkistan region in 2025, Kazinform News Agency cites the Kazakh Agriculture Ministry.
The plant will manufacture 20 types of products, including starch, treacle, edible dextrose, malt sugar syrup, corn oil, gluten, mill offals and grain-rich feed-stuff. It will use exclusively non-GMO corn in its production.
The facilities designed to receive, dry, and store raw material have already been commissioned.
Photo credit: Kazakh Agriculture Ministry
Works are currently underway to commission production capacities and implement waste-free processing technology.
The total investment amount will reach 35 billion tenge.
Noteworthy, Kazakhstan will spend KZT 200 bln to develop 154 agro-industrial projects.
Carbon to candy? China tech could convert CO₂ into food by turning methanol into sugar.
Chinese researchers have developed a groundbreaking method to convert methanol into white sugar—commonly known as sucrose—without using farmland or crops. This method could one day help turn captured carbon dioxide into food.
The new biotransformation system doesn’t rely on sugar cane or sugar beet cultivation. Both of these crops require huge amounts of land and water. Instead, the researchers used enzymes to turn methanol, which can be made from industrial waste or by chemically treating carbon dioxide, into complex sugars.
“Artificial conversion of carbon dioxide into food and chemicals offers a promising strategy to address both environmental and population-related challenges while contributing to carbon neutrality,” the scientists wrote.
This system not only produces sucrose but can also be adjusted to create other important carbohydrates such as fructose and starch. These developments mark a major step in producing food directly from chemicals, bypassing traditional agriculture.
The study was led by a team from the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). They used what’s known as in vitro biotransformation (ivBT), which is a method that builds useful molecules outside of living organisms using enzymes.
Chinese scientists convert CO₂ into food in groundbreaking discovery – Sigma Earth
“In vitro biotransformation (ivBT) has emerged as a highly promising platform for sustainable biomanufacturing,” the researchers wrote.
“In this work, we successfully designed and implemented an [ivBT] system for sucrose synthesis from low-carbon molecules,” they said.
Sucrose is mainly harvested from sugar cane in tropical countries and sugar beets in colder climates. While China can grow both, it still imports around 5 million tonnes of sugar each year to meet its annual demand of 15 million tonnes, according to a recent post by CAS on WeChat.
With agriculture under increasing pressure from climate change and rising population, researchers are urgently searching for more efficient and scalable alternatives to grow food. Producing sugar directly from methanol, which in turn can be made from carbon dioxide, is one such alternative.
In 2021, another research team from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (also under CAS) created a low-temperature method to turn CO₂ into methanol. This opened the door for carbon waste to become a raw ingredient in making valuable chemicals like sugars.
Building on that breakthrough, the Tianjin researchers developed a high-efficiency pathway to convert methanol into sugars using a series of fast, low-energy chemical reactions. They achieved an impressive conversion rate of 86 percent.
“This study established several ivBT platforms for the conversion of low-carbon molecules, which can be derived from chemical reduction of CO₂ or chemical/biological conversion of industry wastes, into high-carbon (C≥12) sugars,” the team said.
The system not only created sucrose for the first time using methanol but also produced starch using less energy than previous techniques. The scientists said this approach could work for a wide range of complex sugars, not just those used for sweetening.
By adapting the same ivBT system, the team was also able to make fructose, amylose, amylopectin, cellobiose, and cellooligosaccharides. These carbohydrates are used not just in food, but also in pharmaceuticals and industrial applications.
“Together, our system provides a promising, plant-independent route for de novo synthesis of structure-diversified oligosaccharides and polysaccharides,” the researchers said. These complex sugars are essential for everything from energy storage in the body to medical treatments.
“This work thus lays a foundational framework for the future development of flexible and carbon-negative biomanufacturing platforms,” the team added.
However, the researchers also acknowledged that more work is needed before this method can be used on a large scale. They plan to improve enzyme efficiency and make the system more stable and robust for industrial use.
China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) initiated anti-dumping investigation on pea starch imported from Canada from Tuesday, based on applications from six domestic companies representing the pea starch industry, the ministry said in an announcement released on Tuesday.
This survey began on August 12, 2025 and is expected to be completed by August 12, 2026. In exceptional circumstances, it can be extended for an additional six months, said MOFCOM.
In response to an inquiry about the investigation, a spokesperson for MOFCOM stated in a separate statement on Tuesday that this anti-dumping investigation was initiated following an application from domestic industry. Preliminary evidence submitted by the applicants indicated that, in recent years, the volume of dumped pea starch imports from Canada has increased significantly, with import prices consistently below the domestic selling prices, leading to operational difficulties and losses for the domestic industry.
“An anti-dumping investigation is a legitimate trade measure under WTO rules to protect the domestic industry. China’s initiation of an anti-dumping investigation into pea starch imports from Canada is fundamentally different from the recent discriminatory measures taken by Canada against China, which instead violate WTO rules,” said the spokesperson in the statement published on MOFCOM’s website.
According to MOFCOM, pea starch is primarily used for producing bean vermicelli and jelly, it also serves as a thickener, stabilizer, emulsifier, and binder, with applications in food, pharmaceuticals, papermaking, textiles, coatings, and feed industries.
The dumping period of Canadian pea starch to be investigated is set from January 1 to December 31, 2024, while the industry damage investigation period covers from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2024, said MOFCOM.
According to statistics seen from the General Administration of Customs, China imported 19.844 million kilograms of pea starch from Canada in 2024, with a value of about $9.689 million. Canada was China’s biggest import source of pea starch in 2024.
The MOFCOM spokesperson said that after receiving the application, the investigation authority reviewed it in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations and in compliance with WTO rules.
“The review concluded that the application meets the conditions for initiating an anti-dumping investigation, leading to the decision to proceed. The investigation authority will conduct the inquiry lawfully and make an objective and impartial ruling based on the findings,” said the spokesperson.
Interested parties should register with the MOFCOM’s Trade Remedy Investigation Bureau to participate in this anti-dumping investigation within 20 days from the date of this announcement, read the announcement.
Ingredion hosts groundbreaking ceremony for $50 million Cedar Rapids expansion.
Project will increase plant’s corn processing capacity by up to 50%.
Ingredion leaders and government officials took an opportunity Wednesday, at a groundbreaking ceremony in Cedar Rapids, to recognize not only Ingredion’s $50 million local expansion, but the plant’s long operating history and its symbiotic relationship with Iowa agriculture.
“Today, we break ground on the next chapter in Ingredion’s journey here in Cedar Rapids,” newly-appointed Cedar Rapids plant manager Patrick Small said as he opened Wednesday’s ceremony. “We also honor our legacy more than a century in the making, a legacy built on resilience, innovation, cooperation and community.”
Ingredion officials said the investment will modernize and expand the production of industrial starches for the packaging and papermaking industries.
The project was first announced by Ingredion in late February, just after the Cedar Rapids City Council voted Feb. 25 to authorize city financial incentives and a resolution of support of the company’s application for High-Quality Jobs Program funding through the Iowa Economic Development Authority for the project. Those tax benefits were awarded by the IEDA in March.
This schematic shows the new starch flash dryers that will be installed at the Ingredion plant in Cedar Rapids as part of a $50 million expansion project. CREDIT CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS
The project, which will expand the plant’s capacity by as much as 50%, is expected to create four new jobs, with a qualifying wage of $32.64 per hour.
Eric Seip, Ingredion’s senior vice president of global operations and chief supply chain officer, noted that Ingredion has more than 17,000 customers in 22 countries, and its products are consumed by more than 2.3 billion people every day.
He said the Cedar Rapids plant has conducted wet corn milling operations in Cedar Rapids since it opened in the 1890s, and all the corn processed at the plant is sourced from Iowa, “supporting the livelihoods of many, many Iowa farmers.”
He also said the project represents “an exciting chapter in the broader renaissance of manufacturing that’s coming back into America.”
“I’ve grown up in manufacturing plants,” he said. “I’ve spent my career in manufacturing. I’m very happy that as a country, we’re starting to look at bringing manufacturing jobs back into our plant. This is part of that renaissance, and our chapter with that begins here today in Cedar Rapids.”
Robert Ritchie, Ingredion’s senior vice president of food and industrial ingredients for the Americas, said that “at the risk of geeking out,” he wanted to further explain Ingredion’s role in the development of starches and polymers.
“Plant science and chemistry are at the heart of how we innovate,” he said. “That science allows us to take corn and turn it into everything from sweeteners to sodas to drying agents for sunscreens. More and more these days, corn starch is being used in corrugated boxes for online orders, produce boxes at your grocery stores and even food boxes at your local pizza place. For years, many boxes have been sprayed with plastic or petroleum products to make them stronger or more grease resistant. At Ingredion, we are making the next generation of corn starch followers that can help shift away from plastics and petroleum to stronger, greener and more sustainable boxes right here in Cedar Rapids.”
In her remarks at the ceremony, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds referenced a meeting she had earlier in the day with Ingredion representatives.
“I will quote what you said, which warms my heart: ‘Corn is the heart and soul of our company,’” Ms. Reynolds said. “As the number one corn producing state in the country, that is music to my ears. In fact, they actually process 45,000 45,000 bushels a day (in Cedar Rapids). And with this investment, we have the opportunity to take that up to 65,000 bushels a day. And it’s 100% sourced from right here in our great state.”
She praised Ingredion as a company that “understands how to lead by transforming ideas into solutions and investing in communities that make that mission possible.”
“We’ve really worked hard to create a kind of competitive environment that supports long-term investment with lower taxes, smart regulations and policies that put innovation and business growth first,” Ms. Reynolds said. “But just as important as what we offer is who we are. Iowans value relationships. We show up, we follow through, and we build things that last, and we know that when a company grows, our whole state benefits jobs through expanded supply chains and through the ripple effects that fuel strong communities.”
Cedar Rapids mayor Tiffany O’Donnell praised Ingredion’s persistence through a variety of challenges, including damage sustained at the plant in the city’s 2008 flood and 2020 derecho.
“Your willingness to continue through good and challenging times says a lot about our community and a lot about you,” Ms. O’Donnell said. “So I thank you all for your partnership and those all-important relationships. Ingredion’s presence here, and your growth now, is a powerful example of our spirit here in Cedar Rapids … with this $50 million investment, we know that you’re going to continue this proud legacy, reaffirming your commitment to our great city, our workforce, and to what we know is pur shared economic future, not just as a city, but as a state, as we work to literally feed and serve the world.”
According to city council documents released in February, the Ingredion project will include construction of three new industrial buildings at the Ingredion site, 1001 First St. SW, and a new starch flash dryer. One building at the site, just north of Riverside Park, will also be demolished as part of the project.
Work on the project is expected to be completed by October 2026.
The company traces its Cedar Rapids origins to the founding of Douglas Starch Works in 1894. It employs about 100 workers in Cedar Rapids, according to union representatives.
The Douglas Starch Works plant was leveled in an explosion in 1918, and the plant was rebuilt and became Penick & Ford in 1920. The company sat mostly idle from 1977 to 1980 as sugar prices cratered.
The company became Penford Products in 1987, and Ingredion then acquired Penford Products in 2015.
Ethanol production began at the plant in 2008 and ceased in 2021.
Qore launches in Eddyville, Iowa, ushering in large-scale corn processing for bio-based solutions.
The $300 million center in Iowa will turn locally grown corn into a plant-based chemical that can be used to make consumer goods.
Next week, Cargill will cut the ribbon on a pioneering new manufacturing center in Eddyville, Iowa that it describes as the world’s largest biotech facility producing a plant-based material, which will be used to make apparel, footwear, personal care and automotive products, electronics, and packaging.
The new bio-industrial facility called Qore, a joint venture of Minnesota-based Cargill and Germany-based HELM, reflects years of development and a $400 million investment in creating an alternative to fossil derived material. The result is QIRA, the world’s first large-scale 1.4-butanediol (BDO) made from locally grown corn. It is designed to serve as a sustainable alternative to a fossil-derived equivalents, which burn coal for energy. QIRA uses corn starch to achieve the same outcome. Coal puts carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; corn starch takes it out.
The Qore biotech center in Eddyville, Iowa
Qore CEO Jon Veldhouse said it marks a major step forward in meeting global demand for more sustainable materials in everyday consumer products. LYCRA is among the major textile brands already signed on. “This facility enables more farming and rural development in the Midwest,” and “QIRA brings in a great opportunity to bring different options to the market,” Veldhouse said.
At the heart of these environmental benefits are Iowa farmers who apply regenerative agriculture practices for growing dent corn, which is a type of field corn with a high soft starch content. These practices are an inclusive approach to land management, meant to restore soil and ecosystem health. The proximity of the feedstock enables greater traceability and transparency throughout the supply chain.
“By offering a bio-based alternative to fossil-based feedstock, we are empowering brands to reduce their environmental impact and respond to consumer demands for transparency, more sustainable, high-performing products,” said Steve Kuiper, a fourth-generation Iowa farmer. “Our community is proud to play a vital role in making everyday products more sustainable.”
A grand opening event on July 22 will celebrate the completion of the $300-million facility and the official start of QIRA production. However, Veldhouse said the work is already underway: material is now being shipped out to consumer goods companies across the country.
Source: https://tcbmag.com/cargill-opens-biotech-center-for-sustainable-manufacturing/ and https://www.businessrecord.com/cargill-joint-venture-starts-production-in-eddyville/
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Starch’s multifunctional potential for responsible beauty in cosmetics.
A study has demonstrated starch’s underrecognized potential for cosmetic applications, especially amid the rising demand for environmentally responsible beauty. Diving deeper into potatoes, corn, and tapioca starch, the scientists found that due to their distinct qualities, these plant-based sources hold potential as an alternative to synthetic polymers without sacrificing efficancy.
Because of its absorbency, smooth texture, and ease of application, starch may enhance cosmetic formulations suitable for skin care, body care, makeup, and hair care. It can also be used for gel or paste-based products or packaging solutions.
The industry is moving toward natural ingredients and more sustainable processes. The study highlights how the main sustainability issues in cosmetics formulation are energy consumption, water use, and waste management, forcing beauty giants to rethink operations.
Multifunctionality of starch
Due to its oil-absorbing, mattifying, and texture-improving capabilities, starch is mainly used to formulate body powders and loose powders for makeup.
The study*, published in Carbohydrate Polymers, details that the ingredient also forms a gel or paste-like texture through gelatinization and retrogradation, two key processes influenced by heat and water.
“In cosmetics, starch gels serve various functions, including thickening, viscosity control, stabilization, and texture enhancement, contributing to the smooth feel and consistency of products such as creams, lotions, hair gels, nail polish, and facial masks,” reads the study.
Swedish advertisement for toiletries (c. 1905/06) Source: Wikipedia
“Achieving the right gel properties is essential for good spreadability, appealing sensorial characteristics, and stability over a wide pH range.”
Starch can also be used to create films, which are “highly functional biomaterials in modern cosmetic formulations,” the researchers argue.
The ingredient can regulate the control of active chemicals while offering improved biodegradability, compared to other options on the market. Starch fibers also hold formulation potential as an effective, precise carrier of active ingredients.
“Synthetic polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol and polylactic acid, are often blended with starch to enhance spinnability and improve the functionality of nanofibers,” the researchers explain.
Various industrial processing methods transform starch from a simple biopolymer into a multifunctional cosmetic ingredient.
With innovative technologies, starch also has the potential to be used in cosmetics packaging by plasticizing or mixing with polymers to improve its mechanical properties.
From toxic to plant-based
The researchers highlight the potential for starch to replace talc in cosmetics, as fears of asbestos contamination have increased due to evidence linking it to lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and respiratory problems.
The EU is planning to ban talc in cosmetics in 2027. Recently, the US FDA gathered an expert panel to discuss the role of talc in cosmetics and other goods. The panel favored banning the ingredient, as the experts stressed forty years of science demonstrate its adverse health effects.
Meanwhile, there have been lawsuits for companies selling talc-based products, such as Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder, which was reformulated in 2023 from using talc to corn starch.
The new study says these lawsuits have significantly shifted consumer demand toward safe alternatives. Brands have responded by reformulating their products with plant-based ingredients.
The authors detail that the industry is moving toward conscious practices and exemplify how beauty giants like L’Oréal and Cargill Beauty continuously innovate with sustainable practices such as refillable beauty products, biodegradable ingredients, and recyclable or compostable packaging.
