Exfoliants from Africa highlight upcycling potential

Many ingredient manufacturers have started to invest in the upcycling model. Kupanda recently launched a new range of exfoliants developed from upcycling by-products of the company’s cosmetic oil production.

The cosmetic industry is constantly looking for ways of making itself more sustainable from packaging materials and sourcing ingredients to extraction processes and upcycling materials to avoid them going to landfill.

Kupanda, a leading supplier of African botanical ingredients, has embraced the concept of upcycling to create two new natural exfoliants.

According to Robyn Brown of Botanichem, upcycling is different from zero waste: “Upcycling is about reusing waste objects or materials to create products of higher quality or value than the original. Zero waste is defined as using all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse and recovery of products, packaging and materials.”

Upcycled raw materials

Kupanda, which is represented in South Africa by Botanichem, has built a reputation on developing, producing and supplying African natural botanical ingredients. The company’s focus has always been on high-value, esoteric, natural products from various regions in Africa. These natural products serve as active and functional ingredients for use in the beauty and personal care, and food and beverages industries.

At the heart of the business, you’ll find the ‘Kupanda Way’, which focuses on respecting the integrity of plants’ natural properties, allowing the pure and unhindered benefits of plants to sustain human lives. Kupanda is already recognised for its exceptional range of African oils and recently launched a new range of exfoliants developed from upcycling by-products of its oil production activities.

Managing director, Imran Moten says that the company is thrilled to launch this new range of exfoliants, especially as Kupanda is currently the only supplier of these particular exfoliants.

“These high quality, traceable and upcycled raw materials demonstrate our commitment to introducing interesting and sustainable ingredients. The focus is on products that originate from the African continent, produced in accredited European facilities, for the international cosmetics industry,” he added.

The range currently consists of two products:

1. Salala Baobab (Adansonia digitata seed extract) Exfoliant produced from the baobab ‘tree of life’.
2. Naksia Kalahari Melon (Citrullus lanatus fruit extract) Exfoliant produced from nourishing Kalahari melon fruit.

Salala Baobab Exfoliant

The baobab tree is found throughout Africa and is commonly referred to as the ‘tree of life’ or ‘upside down tree’. The trees are firmly entrenched in local culture. Baobab fruit ripens between March and June in Southern Africa, and November to December in the northern parts of the African continent.

Opening the baobab shell reveals a creamy-white coloured pulp that smothers black bean-sized seeds, which are cold-pressed into oil. The resulting seedcake (byproduct) is then upcycled to produce the Salala Baobab Exfoliant.

The word ‘salala’ means ‘to be smooth’ in the African language of Chichewa, which is spoken in Malawi and Mozambique – where most of the baobab seeds are sourced.

Consisting of moderate abrasiveness, Salala Baobab Exfoliant 500 and 1 000 are ideal ‘hero’ ingredients for dislodging dead skin cells. Salala Baobab Exfoliant reduces skin roughness without disrupting skin’s integrity by removing dead and dry skin cells. This helps to promote an even skin tone. It is ideal for use in exfoliating products for face, hands, feet and body.

Naksia Kalahari Melon Exfoliant

This ingredient is produced from the nourishing Kalahari melon fruit, which is renowned for sustenance in Africa’s torrid heat. This melon is the biological predecessor to the common watermelon but has a more rounded shape with irregular pale and dark green scattered bands emanating from the fruit’s stalk.

Unlike the common watermelon, the bitter tasting pulp is yellow-green and conceals numerous benefit-rich brown seeds. Kalahari melon seeds are cold pressed into oil. The resulting seedcake (by-product) is then upcycled to produce Nakisa Kalahari Melon Exfoliant.

The word ‘nakisa’ means ‘to make pretty or nice’ in Xhosa, which is spoken in South Africa, and aptly describes the benefits of this natural exfoliant. Nakisa Kalahari Melon Exfoliant 500 and 1 000 provide moderate abrasiveness for facial, body and feet scrub formulations.