Periodic Reporting for period 2 - STAR (Safe, Transparent, Active and Reliable mineral sunscreen technology)
Reporting period: 2019-01-01 to 2019-10-31
The ozone layer is getting thinner day by day and for this reason most harmful rays that come from sun are reaching the earth’s face. The incidence of both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers has been increasing over the past decades. Currently, between 2 and 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and 132,000 melanoma skin cancers occur globally each year. One in every three cancers diagnosed is a skin cancer and there is a high mortality rate from UV ray associated melanomas, one person dies of melanoma every hour & since 86% of melanomas are caused by UV rays from the sun, this is of little surprise.
To protect from harmful UV rays come from Sun, the use of sunscreens is the best method. The two mineral UV filters available on the market are Zinc Oxide (ZnO) & Titanium Dioxide (TiO2). Zinc Oxide is a globally approved natural mineral ingredient, considered the most effective UV filter in broad spectrum sunscreen, providing extensive protection against both UVA & UVB rays. The two current conventional forms of ZnO used in sunscreen products are of micron & nano particle size. There are benefits & disadvantages to each of the micron or nano forms of ZnO. Some formulators consider Micron ZnO has better health & safety features; however, nano ZnO is considered a more effective sunscreen & is thus more commonly used by formulators.
MicNo-ZnO technology from Entekno Materials is a novel mineral-based UV filter. Created by patented MicNo particle technology it combines the benefits of both micron & nano ZnO particles. MicNo-ZnO is a tailored, platelet shaped, micron sized particle composed of nano primary particles. MicNo acts like micron ZnO over the skin, since it does not penetrate through the skin, but it still offers the high protection & transparency of nano ZnO.
The level of protection from UV rays in a sunscreen is described by using the term SPF, or Sun Protection Factor. This term is used in the cosmetic market. SPF is the measure of protection a sun cream can provide against UVB rays. Regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen can reduce the risk of developing melanoma by 50%. Although the best method to avoid getting a melanoma is using sunscreens, the sunscreens can cause serious health problem for people. Use of nano or micron size particles in sunscreens have some disadvantages. For this reason, MicNo particle technology was developed to combines the benefits of nano & micron size particles without any of the disadvantages. This is attributed to the platelet shape of the MicNo particles which offer high coverage effect over the skin. The high coverage effect provides high protection for users. Another advantage that the MicNo technology offers to the users which is due to the overall particle size of MicNo particles being micron size, is that they do not penetrate through the skin & the MicNo demonstrates highest safety outcome for consumers. Also, since the thickness of the particles are nano sized, the particles offers high transparency effect which consumers desire in the final sunscreen product.
To protect from harmful UV rays come from Sun, the use of sunscreens is the best method. The two mineral UV filters available on the market are Zinc Oxide (ZnO) & Titanium Dioxide (TiO2). Zinc Oxide is a globally approved natural mineral ingredient, considered the most effective UV filter in broad spectrum sunscreen, providing extensive protection against both UVA & UVB rays. The two current conventional forms of ZnO used in sunscreen products are of micron & nano particle size. There are benefits & disadvantages to each of the micron or nano forms of ZnO. Some formulators consider Micron ZnO has better health & safety features; however, nano ZnO is considered a more effective sunscreen & is thus more commonly used by formulators.
MicNo-ZnO technology from Entekno Materials is a novel mineral-based UV filter. Created by patented MicNo particle technology it combines the benefits of both micron & nano ZnO particles. MicNo-ZnO is a tailored, platelet shaped, micron sized particle composed of nano primary particles. MicNo acts like micron ZnO over the skin, since it does not penetrate through the skin, but it still offers the high protection & transparency of nano ZnO.
The level of protection from UV rays in a sunscreen is described by using the term SPF, or Sun Protection Factor. This term is used in the cosmetic market. SPF is the measure of protection a sun cream can provide against UVB rays. Regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen can reduce the risk of developing melanoma by 50%. Although the best method to avoid getting a melanoma is using sunscreens, the sunscreens can cause serious health problem for people. Use of nano or micron size particles in sunscreens have some disadvantages. For this reason, MicNo particle technology was developed to combines the benefits of nano & micron size particles without any of the disadvantages. This is attributed to the platelet shape of the MicNo particles which offer high coverage effect over the skin. The high coverage effect provides high protection for users. Another advantage that the MicNo technology offers to the users which is due to the overall particle size of MicNo particles being micron size, is that they do not penetrate through the skin & the MicNo demonstrates highest safety outcome for consumers. Also, since the thickness of the particles are nano sized, the particles offers high transparency effect which consumers desire in the final sunscreen product.
In WP1 we optimize our products cost, quality and production capability so that we can supply the material at the right quality, with the best price for that quality and at the time and amount the customers ask for. To achieve these purposes we define the quality aspects of our product more in detail, to reduce the cost we applied SMED technique to the process and increase production efficiency via this method and also to reduce the raw material and energy costs we made activities to reduce the amount of material we use for a kg of MicNo® powder by applying green chemistry techniques. To have our product ready for in vivo clinical validation activities we develop in house sunscreen formulations and test these formulations for SPF.
To have our product ready for in vivo clinical validation activities (WP 2) we mature and finalise 3 crucial aspects of our production and production methods: Quality, Cost and Delivery. The objective of this WP is to have the right quality, at the lowest cost and at the right amount and time. To accomplish this goal the following activities are made: 1) Developing and finalising testing formulations in house, 2) Optimising the production processes, 3) Risk analysis and contingencies, 4) In-house formulation testing, 5) Preparation of 500kg of final product for further testing and commercialisation activities. Some of the activities are reported in D1.1. Optimisation of production processes, D1.2. Samples for in-house testing prepared and D1.3. In-house testing conducted reports and further activities related to this work package are reported at section 2.2.1. in this report.
BIP and CP report was completed from beginning the project to end of the first report period. As mentioned in this report, we have defined our potential market and created our marketing & business strategy.
The subject that determined at the BIP and CP report;
o The Commercialisation Strategy has been agreed with analysis against Suitability, Acceptability & Feasibility (SAF) along with a risk assessment
o Our target markets are Europe, North America, Japan – Korea, Australasia
o Key employees in the company have been recruited resulting in a very talented team
o Our market position has been determined along with our Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
o Our Business Model
o Potential Customers have been determined and a target database that include information about the potential customers has been prepared
o Market trends were determined, and our brochures & related activities were modified according to the market trends & customer feedback
o SWOT analysis & Competitors analysis were finalised, and the above activities referenced this intelligence
To have our product ready for in vivo clinical validation activities (WP 2) we mature and finalise 3 crucial aspects of our production and production methods: Quality, Cost and Delivery. The objective of this WP is to have the right quality, at the lowest cost and at the right amount and time. To accomplish this goal the following activities are made: 1) Developing and finalising testing formulations in house, 2) Optimising the production processes, 3) Risk analysis and contingencies, 4) In-house formulation testing, 5) Preparation of 500kg of final product for further testing and commercialisation activities. Some of the activities are reported in D1.1. Optimisation of production processes, D1.2. Samples for in-house testing prepared and D1.3. In-house testing conducted reports and further activities related to this work package are reported at section 2.2.1. in this report.
BIP and CP report was completed from beginning the project to end of the first report period. As mentioned in this report, we have defined our potential market and created our marketing & business strategy.
The subject that determined at the BIP and CP report;
o The Commercialisation Strategy has been agreed with analysis against Suitability, Acceptability & Feasibility (SAF) along with a risk assessment
o Our target markets are Europe, North America, Japan – Korea, Australasia
o Key employees in the company have been recruited resulting in a very talented team
o Our market position has been determined along with our Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
o Our Business Model
o Potential Customers have been determined and a target database that include information about the potential customers has been prepared
o Market trends were determined, and our brochures & related activities were modified according to the market trends & customer feedback
o SWOT analysis & Competitors analysis were finalised, and the above activities referenced this intelligence
The MicNo technology from Entekno Materials is a breakthrough innovation that provides global cosmetics manufacturers a single ingredient to protect consumers from the harmful effects of sun rays. This multifunctional nature allows manufacturers to simply formulation’s, increase performance attributes & increase the competitiveness of final products. Furthermore, the MicNo technology is very easy to formulate in the laboratory & manufacture for sunscreens, coloured cosmetics & daily care cosmetics.
Consumers are increasingly aware of the harmful effects of UV rays but still desire products that are aesthetically pleasing, not overly expensive & do not damage the environment. The MicNo technology allows manufacturers to exceed consumer expectations due to MicNo exhibiting,
o UVA, UVB & Blue Light protection
o High SPF ratio per % mass
o High transparency
o None whitening
o Natural ingredient
o Environmentally friendly
o Excellent dispersion properties
o Opportunity for formulations to be preservative free
Since MicNo provides a high SPF per % used in a formulation compared to other ZnO ingredients, MicNo can decrease the overall total formulation cost. The MicNo technology can be used in sun screens, daily care products such as moisturisers, lip balms or coloured cosmetics such as foundations & lip sticks.
The MicNo technology will provide a very significant improvement to human health for consumers. Since the global cosmetics market is valued at over $500 Billion, the incorporation of the MicNo technology will create over 75 jobs across Europe with a minimum of 40% of the vacancies being taken up by women.
Consumers are increasingly aware of the harmful effects of UV rays but still desire products that are aesthetically pleasing, not overly expensive & do not damage the environment. The MicNo technology allows manufacturers to exceed consumer expectations due to MicNo exhibiting,
o UVA, UVB & Blue Light protection
o High SPF ratio per % mass
o High transparency
o None whitening
o Natural ingredient
o Environmentally friendly
o Excellent dispersion properties
o Opportunity for formulations to be preservative free
Since MicNo provides a high SPF per % used in a formulation compared to other ZnO ingredients, MicNo can decrease the overall total formulation cost. The MicNo technology can be used in sun screens, daily care products such as moisturisers, lip balms or coloured cosmetics such as foundations & lip sticks.
The MicNo technology will provide a very significant improvement to human health for consumers. Since the global cosmetics market is valued at over $500 Billion, the incorporation of the MicNo technology will create over 75 jobs across Europe with a minimum of 40% of the vacancies being taken up by women.