Energy commodities trader and convenience store network VIRŠI-A AS (hereinafter, Virši) and Latvia-based biotechnology company Alternative Plants SIA have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a sustainable cosmetic-grade raw material from the grounds of Virši coffee. This collaboration includes research of the effects of chemical compounds extracted from Virši coffee grounds on human skin cells and the possibility of their use in rejuvenating and anti-fatigue body, facial and hair care products.
“The journey of Virši coffee grounds is fully traceable, beginning with our trusted partners in Brazil, who grow the coffee responsibly and sustainably,” comments Linda Prūse, Member of the Board of Virši. “With this project, we continue to demonstrate our commitment not only to offer delicious and premium quality coffee but also to develop new ways of its use, including in the sector of cosmetics. We ensure coffee’s full life cycle, in its final stage utilising coffee grounds into a valuable cosmetic-grade raw material for cosmetic products. In this way we not only reduce waste amounts but also create sustainable solutions that make the most out of every grind of coffee.”
Alternative Plants board member and co-founder Mārtiņš Borodušķis says about the collaboration: “This is a project that allows us to introduce a new, sustainable raw material to the cosmetics industry, derived from coffee grounds. Our goal is not only to create effective ingredients but also to promote a full-cycle approach to resource utilization.”
Sustainable journey of Virši coffee: from plantation to coffee cup and cosmetics industry
The journey of Virši coffee begins in Brazil, in the plantation of the Veloso family, committed to high sustainability standards and responsible agriculture practices. The coffee used in this project is Rainforest Alliance certified, confirming the high standards of both the plantation and the production process. Virši collaborates with local partners to ensure not only responsible sourcing but also an appropriate and traceable production process all the way to the final product.
Since June this year, the Alternative Plants laboratory has been researching Virši coffee grounds to refine extraction methods, aiming to obtain a diverse range of high-value and skin-beneficial chemical compounds, study their effects on human skin cells and explore innovative applications in cosmetics. Presently, the new cosmetic-grade material is intended to serve as a stimulating ingredient in facial, body and hair care anti-fatigue cosmetic products with rejuvenating and protective benefits.
Alternative Plants: an innovative supplier of cosmetic-grade raw materials dedicated to upholding the highest standards
Alternative Plants is one of the Baltic region’s innovative developers of cosmetic-grade raw materials, whose portfolio already has five unique ingredients created from natural raw materials, including by using plant cell culture technology. Alternative Plants board member and co-founder Mārtiņš Borodušķis explains: “Our top priority is to create sustainable and science-based high-quality cosmetic-grade raw materials that are certified and traceable. Collaboration with Virši provides the opportunity to use their carefully selected and high-quality coffee as a raw material, ensuring that our products meet both quality and origin standards. This partnership will allow us to offer sustainable and proven solutions that simultaneously promote traceability and reliability throughout the supply chain. The first test results have already shown that Virši coffee grounds are still a valuable source of biologically active compounds. The extraction methods optimised by Alternative Plants will allow these residues, which would otherwise be disposed of, to be turned into a highly efficient cosmetic-grade material.”
About Alternative Plants SIA:
Alternative Plants SIA was founded in 2017 and is a growing company, whose core business is the production of cosmetic active ingredients using plant biotechnology methods. The product portfolio of Alternative Plants to date has five EcoCert/Cosmos certified cosmetic-grade raw materials with proven effectiveness in improving skin health and delaying aging. They are produced at a pilot plant in Riga. The company’s cosmetic-grade materials are included in the product ranges of several leading raw material distributors and are available to cosmetic manufacturers in Europe and North America. The company is continuously expanding its product portfolio and is currently developing two new cosmetic-grade raw materials, scheduled for marketing by the end of the year.
About Virši:
Virši is a rapidly growing local energy commodities trader and convenience store network with 29 years of experience. Currently, Virši network has 83 points of sale, including 80 service stations, and employs more than 850 people in all regions of Latvia. Since 11 November 2021, VIRŠI-A AS stocks have been listed on the First North alternative market of the Nasdaq Riga stock exchange.
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