When we ask Romuald Vallée, what bioth-ecologies are, he answer “the ecology of the future". This word is of course taken from the word biotechnology. According to the company and its director, continuing to dip into the planet’s reserves is no longer a sustainable solution. An analysis also made by consumers. Indeed, in Europe, 67 to 75% of consumers say they are interested in scientifically produced ingredients that are comparable in quality to natural ingredients and that preserve natural resources.
What is the strategy adopted by the company to meet the various challenges? Codif TN chooses the strategy of bioth-ecologies, meaning, the technologies of the living. This technology allows the cultivation of living organisms without ever putting pressure on nature. To do so, Codif once takes a microorganism from the sea before placing it in a bio bank. Thus, the company only needs this sample, which it reuses through successive transplantations.
Romuald Vallée explains that "the word biotechnology is frequently assimilating with the term GMO, or modified matter. This means taking a natural organism and modifying it to produce a drug, for example. "In our company, this is not at all our way of acting.” That’s why the word ecology was added to the term. Codif Technologie Naturelle uses high value-added cultivation technologies to grow, as identical to their natural environment, plants and algae.
In this mode of culture, specific living conditions, corresponding to those of the natural habitat of the organism, are recreated. For example, some microorganisms produce EPS thanks to the currents created by a storm. In that case, the company applies these conditions to the micro-organism, in their bioreactors.
According to Romuald, the ultimate goal of Codif’s use of bioth-ecologies is "to take nature, which is already a work of art, and [extract] the quintessence of it to eliminate everything that parasites it." Today, Codif Technologie Naturelle offers 49 active ingredients. Among them, 22% are from bioth-ecologies, 18% are from greenhouse or marine cultures and 18% are from virtuous harvests (certified organic).
To improve the understanding of the term "Bioth-ecology" Codif is working alongside with UEBT (Union for Ethical Biotrade). Their goal is to put precise rules and limits to this term. This is a really important job to do, especially since 80% of French people need a better definition of a "natural product". The objective is to mark a real difference between bioth-ecologies and biotechnologies.
Codif Technologie Naturelle is involved, beyond its commitment with UEBT. Indeed, in 2019, Codif and 7 cosmetics companies, have decided to join forces to create DNA & Cosmetics Consortium.
Since a few years, Codif has been working with DNA Gensee, on different traceability projects. Together they identify the DNA of plants. They are able to identify and trace the origin of the material, either in the plant or in an extract of it.
Three years ago, a collaborative group of eight companies specialized in cosmetics was founded. Four of these companies produce finished products and the other three produce active ingredients, including Codif. The goal is simple, to improve the safety and traceability of products. The Consortium is built on principles and values, a vision and common goals of sustainability.
Codif Technologie Naturelle also acts internally to commit to sustainability. In particular, by implementing carbon footprint monitoring, intelligent waste management, and monitoring the ecotoxicity and biodegradability of active ingredients.
The company has set up a process for evaluating environmental indicators for each of its assets. According to their calculation, in the next 5 years, all the actives will have been evaluated and we will know the environmental impact that their production represents.
This way, the company is continually seeking to commit itself to the preservation of the planet’s resources. And it is quite natural that it is committed to ambitious projects like Corail Artefact.
Corail Artefact is a project that brings together Art, Science and Education. Its goal is to try to find solutions against the degradation and disappearance of coral reefs in the world. To do this, its creator, Jérémy Gobé, has invented a support to help and accelerate the reproduction of coral reefs. It is woven from a traditional cotton lace, with patterns similar to coral and capable of technically imitating the processes implemented by the coral.
Corail Artefact is collaborating with Codif Technologie Naturelle to create new samples of these coral reef regeneration materials. Jérémy Gobé has identified natural extracts, produced by the company, which, when integrated into the lace, increase its performance, while respecting its environment.
Codif Technologie Naturelle proves, this year again, that it is one of the companies, which does not cease reinventing an innovative cosmetic.
