Symrise AG has earned first prize in the raw materials category of the renowned BSB* Innovation Award^® Environment. It honors pioneering solutions that positively impact the environment. This year’s jury has recognized the Symrise Cosmetic Ingredients’ pentylene glycol – Hydrolite^® 5 green – for its exceptional performance and outstanding sustainability credentials. 

The BSB Innovation Award^® Environment accolades the growing importance of environmentally responsible solutions in the cosmetics industry—an area where Symrise continues to lead. In particular, the ingredient stands out by adhering to the 12 principles of green chemistry. Symrise produces Hydrolite^® 5 green from 100%-renewable and readily biodegradable raw materials. These upcycled sources include sugarcane bagasse, a by-product of sugar refining, and corncobs from agricultural by-products. ProTerra has certified both raw materials in addition to wood pulp from FSC and PEFC certified wood processing activities. With Hydrolite^® 5 green already offering a low carbon footprint and low waste generation, Symrise underlines its commitment to continuous process optimizations across both dimensions. Also, the production process reduces water and energy consumption during production. In doing so, it aims to deliver the same high-quality solution with even less impact on the environment.

High-performance ingredient and dual-site manufacturing

Hydrolite^® 5 green has long been recognized as a best-in-class ingredient in cosmetics such as hair care and skin care applications. It offers excellent pigment dispersion, solubilization, stabilization, transparency, and emulsion particle size reduction. In 2025, Symrise opened a new production unit in Granada, Spain. It builds on the success of the Hydrolite^® 5 green production site in Charleston, South Carolina. This expansion strengthens the pentylene glycol supply chain and enables Symrise to serve customers in Europe with greater speed, flexibility, and reliability.

“We are proud that Hydrolite^® 5 green has been recognized by BSB for its environmental innovation in raw materials,” says Francoise Michel-Salaun, Category Director, Micro Protection. “By harnessing upcycled sources, as well as opening a new production facility, we’ve taken important steps forward. And we will move on from here. We want to further improve the sustainability performance of Hydrolite^® 5 green while continuously delivering the same high-quality pentylene glycol to our customers.”

_{*BSB – BSB-Beratungs- und Servicebuero Dr. Riedel e. K. – a globally recognized organization for cosmetic products}