Australia’s booming beauty and personal care market, valued at about $7.4 billion in 2024, is having an environmental crisis: microplastics. While Australia is globally renowned for its pristine natural assets like the Great Barrier Reef, microplastics—tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size—have been found in oceans and wildlife, and even in human bodies, within blood, lungs, and placenta. Among the industries contributing to this contamination is the most beloved skincare market, a sector that is reliant on synthetic, petrochemical-based polymers that provide ‘long-lasting’ or ‘waterproof’ effects.
Many skincare products, especially sunscreens and anti-aging creams, contain microplastics to achieve their waterproof and long-lasting qualities, essential for Aussie consumers who spend significant time outdoors. Yet, these same products often contribute to environmental degradation when washed off in the ocean, affecting the ecosystem.
Traditional petrochemical-based film-forming agents create a synthetic barrier on the skin that withstands water and sweat but breaks down into microplastic particles over time. These particles end up in waterways, eventually entering marine life and even human food chains. With this ‘Sunburnt Country’ being one of the world’s top markets for skincare, the environmental toll is amplified.
While growing consumer awareness around eco-friendly practices and the environmental damage caused by plastics, the need for sustainable alternatives in beauty and skincare is clearer than ever. Research shows that 8 in 10 Australians believe that manufacturers should take responsibility for reducing plastic packaging, as most Aussie consumers prefer Australian-made natural beauty products.
As Aussie consumers become more informed about the impact of these products, there has been a marked shift toward natural, vegan, and eco-friendly skincare solutions. Australia’s skincare market itself is projected to grow annually by 2.24% (2024–2029), defined by trends in sustainable, natural beauty—yet the industry’s reliance on petrochemical ingredients remains a hurdle: how to maintain high-performance standards without relying on the microplastics embedded in today’s skincare products. That is why CXC™, a Montréal-based company, led by François Lamoureux, has come up with a game-changing natural biopolymer-infused solution.
Natural biopolymers chitin and its derivative chitosan have the potential to transform the beauty industry. Long hailed for its bioactive properties—anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing—chitosan holds promise as a natural substitute for petrochemical ingredients. Moreover, it is a known fact that mushrooms were historically the first source of chitin, a fungus whose popularity is growing continuously in Australia. The visionary CEO of CXC™ sees immense potential in harnessing the power of mushrooms and natural biopolymers to transform the beauty industry.
Chitosan’s impressive range of properties, including moisture retention, film-forming abilities, and antimicrobial action, make it an ideal candidate for skin care. It can condition, protect, and even heal the skin while preventing water loss, a critical factor in anti-aging and hydration-focused products. Recent advancements have made it possible to isolate and utilize this natural vegan biopolymer more effectively.
However, the raw material itself, chitin, is insoluble in water, and transforming it into chitosan requires chemical processing that has historically made it impractical for commercial skincare use. This is where the CXC™ solution steps in. “Chitosan has been known for decades for its tremendous potential in skincare and beyond, but it was unusable in its natural form as it is water-insoluble. At CXC™, we’ve cracked the code to unlock its power for the first time and scaled it,” states François.
CXC™ has developed an ingenious, proprietary process to suspend chitosan in water, enabling its use in high-performance skincare products without the need for harmful petrochemicals or microplastics. François emphasizes that this breakthrough technology allows CXC™ to provide a truly clean beauty solution that meets the stringent demands of modern consumers and regulatory bodies alike. “By making chitosan both usable and effective, we’re not just reducing microplastics in the environment, we’re also elevating the performance of skin care products,” François says.
As Australia’s beauty and personal care market continues to grow, so does the demand for truly sustainable products. Current trends even indicate that consumers
are not just looking for eco-friendly packaging; they want skincare solutions that are petrochemical-free and beneficial for both skin health and the environment.
The CXC™ team has unleashed the documented powers of Chitosan, which can lead the charge toward a new era of clean, natural skincare that outperforms its synthetic counterparts with reduced ingredient lists. Through the CXC™ breakthrough technology, harmful petrochemical ingredients can be replaced with Chitosan-based biopolymers, helping brands eliminate microplastics while providing consumers with high-quality, long-lasting products.
The future of Australia’s skincare industry may very well be petrochemical-free, and with CXC™ at the forefront of biopolymer technology, the environmental benefits could extend far beyond beauty, offering a sustainable alternative for industries worldwide.
In the words of François Lamoureux, “The solution to the microplastic crisis already exists. Now it’s up to us to make it happen.”
Company Bio:
CXC™ helps transform fundamental research into applied research with the goal of solving distinct problems in large addressable markets and finding the best partner to commercialize the ensuing intellectual property. They invest in humans and foster creativity to get to the best ideas. CXC™ specializes in identifying technological gaps across various sectors including agriculture, oil & gas, and skin care, and filling those gaps through clever and elegant technological advancements.
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