Biotechnology, Sustainability & Skinification: What We Learned at SCS Formulate 2025

In November, our colleagues Anna Ramata-Stunda and Aiga Salmiņa travelled to Coventry to attend SCS Formulate 2025 — the UK’s leading event for personal care ingredients, raw materials, and formulation innovation. It was our team’s first time participating in a UK-focused industry event, and it proved to be one of the most insightful industry gatherings of the year.

SCS Formulate brought together cosmetic scientists, ingredient suppliers, and R&D professionals to explore the future of beauty: from green chemistry and circular ingredients to high-performance biotech actives. The event confirmed a clear shift — a beauty market driven by efficacy, sustainability, transparency, and scientific proof. 

“SCS Formulate clearly showed that the future of cosmetic innovation belongs to ingredients that combine real efficacy with sustainability and scientific transparency. It strengthened our belief that biotechnology can answer many of the industry’s biggest challenges — from sun protection to skin and scalp health.” — Anna Ramata-Stunda

1. Skinification - skincare ingredients reimagined for a healthier scalp and better-looking hair.. 

A standout insight from SCS Formulate: Haircare is rapidly adopting skincare science.

Brands increasingly target:

• scalp barrier repair

• microbiome balance

• inflammation reduction

• protection against environmental stress

• energy metabolism and follicle vitality

This trend strongly resonates with our core active — CaffiCell-upcycled antioxidant active from spent coffee grounds. CaffiCell is produced via an biorefinery process that transforms spent coffee grounds — usually considered waste — into a potent, sustainable ingredient rich in caffeine and plant polyphenols.

Key benefits of CaffiCell:

• Strong antioxidant protection against UV and pollution

• Maintains optimal energy metabolism

• Boosted microcirculation, helping energise and revitalise the skin

• Scalp & hair support: stimulates follicles and promotes scalp vitality

• A circular, resource-efficient ingredient aligned with green formulation trends

With its energising and antioxidative profile, CaffiCell fits perfectly into the growing Skinification of haircaremovement. 

2. Strong demand for safe, efficient sun care

Sun care innovation was a major theme this year. Formulators are searching for:

• more effective and safer UV solutions,

• SPF boosters that enhance protection,

• multifunctional actives providing antioxidant and repair benefits.

This perfectly aligns with our SPF-boosting active QuinCell- biotech-derived SPF booster & anti-photoageing active. QuinCell is obtained from biotechnologically cultivated Chaenomeles japonica cells and contains a natural blend of anthocyanins and triterpenes.

In short, QuinCell provides:

• Natural UVA/UVB absorption and strong antioxidant activity

• Anti-inflammatory protection against environmental stress

• Anti-photoageing benefits: reduces collagen-degrading MMP-1 and boosts collagen synthesis

• SPF-boosting efficacy: helps UV-exposed skin maintain collagen levels

This positions QuinCell as a powerful next-generation active for modern sun care and anti-ageing formulations.

3. Sustainability and biotech innovation are becoming the new standard

Across the event, exhibitors highlighted a clear shift toward:

• upcycled and circular ingredients,

• biodegradable alternatives to synthetics,

• biotechnology-enabled next-generation actives.

Consumers are now more informed and demanding than ever, expecting proof, transparency, and meaningful impact— not just marketing buzzwords. Biotechnology, including plant cell technology, is emerging as one of the most powerful solutions for high-efficacy, low-footprint ingredient development. 

4. Mitochondrial health & anti-ageing continue to rise

Another prominent theme:The importance of cellular energy and mitochondrial function in skin regeneration and ageing processes.This trend aligns strongly with our scientific focus, as both QuinCell and CaffiCell demonstrate activity related to oxidative stress regulation and cellular vitality. 

A Valuable Experience with Long-Term Impact

Our visit to SCS Formulate 2025 brought:

• inspiring discussions with formulators and ingredient distributors,

• new potential partnerships in the UK market,

• confirmation that our biotech actives — QuinCell and CaffiCell — meet the needs of today’s conscious, science-driven beauty consumer.

For our first UK-focused industry event, it was a motivating and strategically important milestone. We return with strengthened confidence that sustainable biotechnology will play a leading role in shaping the next generation of cosmetic innovation.