Symrise has won the worldwide L’Oréal Sustainable Sourcing 2026 Energy Award in the PIONEERING category for its “Closing the Hydrogen Loop” initiative — a circular production model for the cosmetic ingredient Hydrolite® 5 green that cuts fresh hydrogen demand by around 80% and advances decarbonization across the global cosmetics value chain.
The recognition was presented at L’Oréal’s “Spread The Green Vibes” event, which celebrates scalable Scope 3 decarbonization projects among business partners. Symrise is a global supplier of fragrances, flavors, and cosmetic active ingredients with sales of approximately €4.9 billion in 2024. For a broader view of the company’s environmental performance, see Symrise’s CDP A- ratings for Climate and Water.
Symrise’s Closed-Loop Hydrogen Technology
The “Closing the Hydrogen Loop” approach captures hydrogen generated as a by-product during the production of Hydrolite® 5 green — a biobased pentylene glycol used widely in personal care formulations — purifies it, and reintroduces it into the manufacturing process. This closed-loop system achieves a 98% recovery ratio, reducing reliance on fossil-based fresh hydrogen while improving both resource efficiency and operational performance.
The technology is already operating at industrial scale. Hydrolite® 5 green is used across a wide range of cosmetic applications, making this circular approach directly relevant to the everyday beauty product supply chain. The method lowers Scope 1 emissions and supports a more resilient production model for brands and formulators seeking to meet their own climate commitments.
Replication Potential for the Industry
The engineering principle behind “Closing the Hydrogen Loop” carries strong replication potential. Its design can serve as a blueprint for other gas-intensive manufacturing processes, enabling more CO₂-efficient production across the cosmetics ingredients sector and beyond. Symrise frames the initiative as part of a broader ambition to combine circular process design with scalable commercial impact.
“This award shows what strong partnerships can achieve. We turn circular thinking into climate-smart manufacturing of cosmetic ingredients.”
— Dr. Keke Hiller, Global President Aroma Molecules, Symrise
“The production of Hydrolite® 5 green shows how sustainability and business work smartly together. The process lowers carbon intensity and supports customers’ sustainability goals.”
— Timothy Kenny, Global President Care & Wellness, Symrise
For more information, visit Symrise.
