Beauty company Coty Inc. today announced it has signed a letter of intent to partner with LanzaTech to introduce sustainable ethanol made from captured-carbon emissions into its fragrance products.

LanzaTech, a leader in the production of next generation green and sustainable ingredients, captures industrial emissions (such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide produced in steel manufacturing) and processes the waste gases into a new, more sustainable source of ethanol.

Coty’s scientists have worked alongside LanzaTech and production partners over the past two years to develop a high-purity sustainable ethanol that is suitable for use in fragrances. The proposed partnership means that Coty will incorporate this carbon-captured ethanol into its fragrance manufacturing process, with the goal of having the majority of its fragrance portfolio using ethanol sourced from carbon-capture by 2023.

“Sustainability is the ultimate driver of innovation and Coty is focused on creating outstanding products that are truly clean and green. Ethanol is the number one ingredient purchased for the fragrance category and over time this partnership with LanzaTech will significantly reduce the environmental impact of our products. It’s not only the right thing to do, but it makes commercial sense too – with today’s consumer rightly demanding that their favourite brands share their commitment to sustainability,” Sue Y. Nabi, Chief Executive Officer of Coty, said.

The new sustainable ethanol from carbon-capture utilizes near-zero water consumption and reduces the requirement for agricultural land which, in turn, supports biodiversity. Working with the independent sustainability consultancy Quantis, Coty has conducted a screening life cycle assessment which shows a significantly reduced overall environment impact.

 “Addressing our climate challenge requires collaboration across multiple sectors. We are proud to be developing this partnership with Coty to show that carbon recycling can enable sustainable production of fragrances. Single use carbon must be a thing of the past and this project exemplifies our vision of a CarbonSmart™ future where consumers are able to choose products made from recycled carbon,” Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaTech, said.