Molton Brown owner joins Unilever and Geno’s venture to scale palm oil alternatives

Kao, owner of Molton Brown and Bioré, has joined sustainable materials leader Geno and Unilever to scale and commercialise plant-based alternatives to palm kernel oil.

With growing global demand for sustainably sourced palm oil, the venture hopes to strengthen supply chain resiliency in the home and personal care industries and increase the global supply of responsibly sourced palm oil alternatives to the market.

Kao's investment adds to Geno's previously announced $120 million venture with Unilever and increases the production capability of the palm kernel oil alternative. In addition, Geno's technology also offers alternatives to fossil fuel-based ingredient sources.

The venture will support Kao in manufacturing more sustainable, biotechnology-driven ingredients for use in home and personal care products, and supplying palm oil alternatives to its business customers.

The collaboration will also allow Kao to meet its climate goals, which include reducing its carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2040 and becoming a carbon-negative company by 2050.

Masahiro Katayose, Senior Executive Officer of Kao, said: "To drive sustainable development and contribute towards the building of a resource-circulating society, Kao will continue to undertake responsible, sustainable palm oil procurement. In this regard, Geno's biotechnology has a vital role to play in the diversification of sustainable raw material procurement.

"Kao's investment in this venture will make possible the provision of new eco-chemical solutions and represents an opportunity for Kao to play an even bigger role in helping the industry to realise decarbonisation and make the shift to a resource-circulating economy."

Christophe Schilling, CEO of Geno, said: "Kao joining this venture is another example of Geno collaborating with world-leading brands and value-chain partners to commercialise sustainable solutions at scale that support traceable and responsible sourcing. Together, we will increase the supply chain resiliency our planet and people need today and for the future.

"Kao's deep expertise in the home and personal care markets enables us to support other manufacturers in meeting their sustainability commitments and supplying the rising consumer demand for sustainable products."