Japanese startup Fermenstation upcycles yuzu waste for new Pola cosmetic

Japanese biotechnology startup Fermenstation Co., Ltd. has developed a new cosmetic ingredient by upcycling yuzu citrus waste from Kochi Prefecture. The ingredient, named Yuzu Pulp Extract, will feature as an original moisturising component in a new body serum from cosmetics firm Pola Inc., set for release on 1 November.

The development targets the pulp left over from yuzu juice production. Annually, around 3,600 tonnes of this pulp is discarded from a total harvest of approximately 10,000 tonnes in Kochi, creating a significant disposal challenge for the region. Fermenstation, which specialises in fermentation technology to regenerate unused resources, identified this waste stream as a potential resource.

The development was also a result of a collaboration between industry, government and academia. Fermenstation leveraged its expertise, which grew from a 2021 partnership with Kochi Prefecture to produce ethanol from the same yuzu pulp. For this new extract, Kochi Prefecture provided the raw material, while Pola and Tokyo University of Technology verified and analysed the final ingredient.

The new product, “From Loss To Beauty Melty Body Bavarois”, will be the second in Pola’s “From Loss To Beauty” series.