“The acquisition of Alban Muller enhances Croda’s position as a world leader in natural and botanical actives, helping us meet the increasing demand from customers looking for ingredients of natural origin to improve the sustainability profile of their products,” explains Maarten Heybroek, President of Croda’s Consumer Care business, in a press release about the acquisition.
Croda’s Beauty Actives business expands to include Alban Muller
The specialty chemicals maker is already very well known in the cosmetics and personal care industry, serving beauty manufacturers with its Sederma and Crodarom subsidiaries. Now, the Alban Muller acquisition will bring a whole new portfolio of botanical extracts and plant-based actives to Croda customers around the world.
“I am pleased to pass on the baton to Croda to further expand the eco responsible approach I have advocated for so many years,” says Alban Muller in comments shared with the press. Muller launched his eponymous company in 1978, specializing in natural, clean, and sustainable inputs (and formulations) ever since.
“Croda is the ideal partner to increase the growth of natural products, enhancing our expertise and giving us access to new markets,” he says, concluding optimistically that, “I am sure the combination will drive future developments in natural ingredients that will be very beneficial for consumers.”
An investment in Zeodration technology and bio-based raw materials
This acquisition deal is about more than market reach for Alban Muller and more than additional existing ingredients for Croda; it’s about reputation and technology.
Alban Muller debuted its proprietary low-energy drying technology in 2002. And Zeodration, as this month’s press release from Croda explains, “preserves the most sensitive of active ingredients” found in botanicals.
One example of an ingredient that Zeodration makes possible is the vegetal glucosamine called Glucohyami. The chicory root derivative helps boost hyaluronic acid synthesis. The upcycled ingredient has been on the market for years now; and when it was on display at in-cosmetics North America in 2018, Cosmetics Design checked in on the natural ingredient company to learn more. Watch this video interview—Naturals expert Alban Muller features chicory-derived ingredient—to learn more.
The full Alban Muller cosmetic ingredient portfolio also includes ingredients made from prickly pear extract, pomegranate peel, hazel bark, Tahitian black pearl extract, brown padina algae, and many more natural raw materials.
“We have admired Alban Muller’s sustainability focus and extensive know-how for many years and are delighted to welcome the team to the Croda family,” says Heybroek about the deal, which is expected to close in Q1 of this year.