Banana beauty biotech firm eyes Asia as key growth region

Banana beauty biotech firm eyes Asia as key growth region

The company was founded 13 years ago and carved a name for itself by harnessing the power of banana bioactives derived from upcycled bananas in the French Caribbean.

The firm follows eco-extraction principles and focuses on extracting the benefits bananas in an environmentally respectful manner while minimising ecological impact.

Kadalys launched its eponymous skin care brand about a decade ago as a proof of concept for its patented banana bioactives.

This year, the brand made its debut as an ingredient supplier at in-cosmetics Asia 2024, which was held in Bangkok from November 5 to 7.

Kadalys president and CEO, Shirley Billot, told CosmeticsDesign-Asia that the time was ripe for the company’s next stage of development.

“Even a few years ago people maybe thought natural ingredients have efficacy but now they understand its possible to have both.”

Billot expects Asia to be a key market for the company as she has observed a tremendous appreciation for traditional ingredients and remedies.

“The Asian culture highlights a lot of natural ingredients. I think Asians give more value to natural ingredients compared even to Europe. From my point of view, Asia is more mature in that sense. They appreciate the traditional. If someone can give them the data to prove that a traditional ingredient is good, more concentrated and more efficient, I think they will welcome it.”

One of the company’s signature ingredients is derived from the pink banana (Musa acuminata) from Martinique.

According to the firm, it is a potent anti-pigmentation ingredient that is three time stronger than Vitamin C15.

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