German chemical company plans investment in Chinese biotech

Evonik said on Friday that the German specialty chemicals company has invested via its Venture Capital unit in the Chinese company JLand Biotech, which specializes in the development and production of vegan collagen.

Evonik will invest in JLand Biotech's series round-B financing, however the specific amount remains undisclosed. In addition to the investment, a business cooperation agreement between the two parties has also been signed, which will focus on the development and restructuring of new collagen protein products, it said.

The partnership will provide Evonik with the capabilities to market large quantities of collagen for many applications and skin care products, such as; anti-aging and hydrating creams, masks, and gels, as well as products such as hair masks and conditioners, it said.

"The investment underlines our commitment to both sustainability and innovation," said Erning Cao, investment director of Evonik Venture Capital.

"It strengthens our business activities in cosmetic and personal care applications. The partnership also enhances our innovation ecosystem in China."

Collagen has emerged as a promising bioactive for enhancing elasticity and hydration in skin and hair in cosmetic and personal care applications. Vegan collagen, produced through a controlled fermentation-based process using bacteria or yeast, offers several advantages over animal-derived collagen, said Evonik.

It is easier to formulate, better absorbed by the skin, and has low immunogenicity and batch-to-batch variability, ensuring high reproducibility. Moreover, vegan collagen aligns well with the global trend towards sustainability and can help formulators meet the growing consumer demand for effective bioactive ingredients, it said.

As the demand for sustainable and effective bioactives continues to grow, vegan collagen is poised to become a key ingredient in cosmetic and personal care products, said Evonik.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn