CCUK's Industry event summary for November 2025

Congress on Regulatory Issues in Chartres, France, November 19-20

Our director, Olivia Santoni of Bloom Regulatory, attended this regulatory congress in Chartres, France organised by Cosmetic Valley. Olivia commented, “The event was well attended by regulatory experts and was a perfect opportunity to brainstorm on upcoming regulatory challenges. This year a particular focus was given to environmental legislations from PFAS, to water legislations and packaging. It also covered upcoming changes to the cosmetics and chemicals legislation and highlighted the difficulties for companies to keep abreast of those changes - those difficulties are recognised by the EU Commission as we are seeing ‘stop the clock’ actions being taken to postpone some legislations. Although those postponements allow the industry to be more prepared, it also unfortunately brings more uncertainties. 

The second day focused on international regulations in particular USA, China and Middle East, where we are witnessing new initiatives from cosmetovigilance to labelling and licensing requirements. Overall presentations highlighted the fact that the regulatory landscape is getting more and more complex for companies to navigate in a difficult economic environment”.

DACHSER Celebrates Innovation and Sustainability at the Pure Beauty Awards 2025

In October, a team from our members, DACHSER had the pleasure of attending the Pure Beauty Awards 2025 at the iconic Grosvenor House Hotel in London as an event sponsor.

Now in its 24th year, the ceremony brought together over 300 of the UK and Europe’s most influential beauty professionals - from global brands and indie innovators to suppliers, distributors, and industry press.

As Pure Beauty Editor Amanda May noted, this awards program honours the “trailblazers who are making beauty more accessible, inclusive and sustainable”.

‘It was an evening of energy, creativity, and celebration, all centred around the people and products shaping the future of the beauty industry’, commented Simon Alexander, Business Development Manager, Contract Logistics, who presented one of the awards. ‘Behind every beautiful product is a Smart Supply Chain. At DACHSER, we know that logistics is the silent strength behind every brand’s success. Our dedicated Cosmetics Solutions supports beauty companies with end-to-end global logistics - ensuring that products arrive in perfect condition, on time, and ready to impress. From imports and exports, to warehousing and fulfilment, DACHSER provides the structure and precision that let brands focus on what they do best: creating exceptional products’, he added.

Team DACHSER was honoured to present the awards for three key categories:

Best New Fragrance - James Hurcomb

Best New Lip Product – Simon Alexander

Best New Sustainable Innovation - Josh Mower

Demeter Awards

CCUK has again been a sponsor at the second Biobased and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA) Demeter Awards and Innovation Showcase. Held at the iconic Royal Society of Chemistry HQ in Piccadilly on November 17, these are the only UK awards dedicated to recognising excellence in the bio-based sector. Director Jane Evison represented CCUK on the day with a table top in the exhibition area. The day was a mix of company pitches for the three main awards in front of a panel of judges, plus three individual panel sessions and plenty of time for networking. Members Croda Beauty and Holiferm were finalists and gave amazing pitches. Sadly Croda Beauty was not successful on the day, although Holiferm were first runner up in the Collaboration award. However, the Clean Food Group, who won the start up of the year award worked closely with Croda and THG LABS and so they should be congratulated too. The special new Bioeconomy Champion Award Winner was Professor James Winterburn, who has been instrumental in founding Holiferm and a pioneer of driving sustainable innovation.

CEO of Holiferm, Charles Dimmler, participated in the panel session: ’How to Create the UK’s First Trillion-Dollar Biotechnology Company’, chaired by Paul Mines, with Isabel Webb (DSIT), Sam Olof (Revena & Science Creates), and Toby Reid (Pioneer Group) and then THG LABS and Holiferm were part of a panel on Bio-Based Ingredients in Consumer Goods. Chaired and reported by Dr Jen Vanderhoven, with Sarah Hosking (Unilever), Kristal Goodman (THG LABS), Russ Tucker (twig), Joanna Gavins (University of Sheffield), and Clare Walker (Holiferm), this panel explored how bio-based ingredients add brand value. On which sectors will change most, Sarah said reformulation is already shifting; Kristal highlighted cosmetics; Clare said every sector can transform and Russ noted cosmetics can adopt bio-based solutions fastest. On AI, Russ said it reduces bias in strain-engineering and improves formulation; Sarah highlighted AI-driven enzyme discovery. Discussing low-value wastes and feedstocks, Clare stressed collaboration to build new supply chains and Kristal calling for regulatory reform. Asked whether sustainability, cost, or performance drives adoption, the panel agreed performance leads. Joanna argued that labels alone cannot convey bio-based benefits; brands need clear narratives, evidence, and accessible language. Clare and Kristal stressed honest claims and strong data. The panel agreed new value chains rely on collaboration.

Once again the awards were presented by former Secretary of State for the Environment and Chair of the Climate Change Committee, Lord Deben. He told delegates, “What you do is not just a job.  It’s actually helping the world to adapt to and mitigate climate change, which we have been stupid enough to allow to happen.”

Start-Up of the Year Award

Winner: Clean Food Group

First runner-up: Solena Materials

Second runner-up: A&B Smart Materials

Product Innovation Award

Winner: Woodly

First runner-up: Xampla

Second runner-up: Futamura

Collaboration Award

Winner: Pulpex

First runner-up: Holiferm

Second-runner up: Bio-Industrial Cluster North

An inspiring day, setting the scene for the Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons in London on December 3rd, when BBIA will launch their White Paper, ‘Bio-Based Policy for People & Planet’. Director, Gill Westgate will be representing CCUK there. The White Paper will be setting out recommendations to help Government unlock the significant economic and environmental opportunities for the UK. The UK bio-based chemicals and materials sector has the potential to generate over £204 billion a year for UK plc, support rural regeneration, create skilled jobs, and reduce reliance on fossil resources, according to BBIA.  BB-REG-NET, an Innovate UK-funded research initiative, led by the BBIA, has spent the past 12 months investigating the opportunities and challenges for bio-based and biodegradable chemicals and materials in the UK culminating in the launch of this White Paper.