Technology Landscape
Ingredient replacement: Finding biodegradable and safe alternatives
Client overview
A consumer goods company was interested in replacing a specific functional ingredient in their formulated products. They asked Strategic Allies Ltd (SAL) to review the functional properties of the ingredient and look for alternatives with similar attributes or modes of action. SAL’s client was particularly interested in technologies being used in related applications in adjacent industries. The focus was on ingredients that were safe, non-toxic and biodegradable.
The client planned to test the suitability of the technologies using their in-house laboratories, so SAL searched for materials that could be bought from specialty chemicals companies, even if only R&D grade chemicals were available in small sample sizes.
The search
SAL conducted a broad landscaping search for relevant technologies used in the medical, pharmaceutical, dental, life sciences, animal feed, food, beverage, packaging, chemical, coatings and water purification industries.
The search was informed by SAL’s review of competitors’ alternative ingredients and analysis of the functional properties of the ingredient the client already used, including ingredient solubility, size, charge and the likelihood the material would form complexes. SAL introduced the client to different technologies each supported by sufficient technical data to build a hypothesis on why it would be suitable for the client’s products. Some were standard materials whilst other ingredients could be custom-made by contract research organisations. The client prioritised technologies for a deeper dive, where SAL reviewed published scientific papers, patents and technical websites to understand the materials in greater depth. SAL also interviewed five suppliers to find out more about their products and services including ingredient pricing, availability, lead time, and supporting technical data.
“Really good overview and a great starting point to dig deeper and see what can work”
Outcome
Of the seventeen technologies shortlisted and presented, nine functional ingredients were prioritised for a deeper dive where SAL found out more about the chemical properties of the ingredients and identified potential suppliers.
The client is currently assessing the ingredients with a view to conducting proof of concept studies on the most applicable.