Citroleo

Although sustainability looks resolutely to the future, its efficacy is rooted in what came before. In savoir-faire, experience and innovation brought together over many years. By working with the soil, patiently, creating connections and trust. And so, Citroleo’s commitment in Brazil began in the 1980s with a pioneering approach to Candeia trees. Today, the product range is built around a series of original collections.

The Candeia program

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The Candeia (Eremanthus erythropappus) is a tree originating in Brazil, in particular the Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra do Espinhaço. The essential oil extracted from its wood is rich in α bisabolol. Citroleo started distilling this oil in 1988, developing sustainable sites in Minas Gerais and then Bahia. Over the years, Citroleo’s understanding of this precious tree grew, as did its network of expert producers.

This experience is the basis of a collaboration with the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) with the aim of defining the ideal approach for conserving natural Candeia forests. As a result, a law was passed regulating the exploitation of this tree. Citroleo went on to launch a major program to regenerate the Candeia tree and its biotope.

Today, Citroléo is FSC® certified and manages approximately 1 million trees. With initiatives in several regions across Brazil, Citroléo’s Candeia Program helps preserve biodiversity, water sources and watercourses. It also contributes to providing long-term support for local communities. Citroléo capitalizes on this savoir-faire when approaching new sectors and developing new ingredients.

Sustainable innovations

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The Candeia tree itself is the starting point for value-adding ingredients like Citrue Bisabolol 95% and, most recently, Alpha Shield, a powerful 100% natural antiseptic agent. Combining high concentrations of natural bisabolol with essential melaleuca oil, this complex also has a pronounced softening effect.

At the crossroads between cosmetics industry expectations and a deep understanding of different plant sectors, Citroléo has reinforced its offering with sustainable products from across Amazonia. The CitroForest collection comprises plant oils and butters, resins, exfoliating powders and essential oils. The CitroGreen collection brings together 100% natural, sustainable complexes with targeted properties including soothing, anti-stretch mark, anti-dandruff or anti-frizz actions. Some oils can be used to develop high-value ingredients like those in the CitroTech collection of eco-surfactants.

Green Behenic (BAPDMA), for example, is a Diméthylamine Behenamidopropyl obtained from Pracaxi oil. The Pracaxi (Pentaclethra macroloba) is a tree in the Amazonian canopy whose capacity to fix nitrogen makes it a favorite in forest regeneration strategies. With excellent substantivity, Green Behenic is packed with conditioning properties and produces a creamer, more stable foam than Dimethylamine Stearamidopropyl deriving from palm oil.

Green Cocoamphoacetate B, on the other hand, is derived from Babassu oil (Orbignya oleifera). The oil is extracted from the seeds of the ripe fallen fruit whose harvesting represents an important source of revenue for local communities. As an alternative to Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Green Cocoamphoacetate B is ideal for formulating gentle care products especially for babies. What’s more, it is far more efficient than the palm-oil alternative: you only need half the concentration of Green Cocoamphoacetate B to obtain the equivalent foaming and conditioning action.