Sustainable COSMetic ingredients from lIgnin upCycling

Objective

COSMIC proposes a novel photocatalytic platform to valorise lignin (a major, yet underexploited component of biomass) into high-value ingredients for the cosmetics industry. Lignin, abundantly available as a by-product from the paper and pulping sector, is currently incinerated or discarded due to the lack of scalable, selective conversion technologies. COSMIC addresses this gap with the first continuous-flow photocatalytic reactor operating under ambient conditions, capable of selectively depolymerising lignin into aromatic monomers. The technology is green, solvent-free and compatible with renewable energy sources, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional thermocatalytic methods. The project focuses on bio-vanillin as a fragrance ingredient, which will serve as the lead demonstrator, with current lab-scale yields reaching up to 7.1 wt% at >99% purity. COSMIC will optimise downstream separation by replacing current chromatography techniques with scalable nanofiltration and crystallisation steps. In parallel, the functional and regulatory readiness will be assessed through toxicological, sensory and formulation studies aligned with EU cosmetic standards. COSMIC will validate the technical and commercial feasibility of this platform, supported by stakeholder input from cosmetic developers, biomass suppliers and industry associations. The project will also generate techno-economic and life-cycle data to guide future scale-up, paving the way for EIC Transition funding. COSMIC ultimately aims to establish a credible pathway for lignin-based ingredients to enter regulated consumer markets, replacing fossil-derived compounds with sustainable, multifunctional alternatives.