altM transforms biomass into cosmetic actives

The Indian deep-tech company is opening an integrated pilot biorefinery in Bengaluru. Backed by $3.5 million (€3.25 m) in funding (Omnivore, BII), the company uses a proprietary "circular chemistry" platform to transform agricultural residues into high-performance materials. For the cosmetics industry, altM is developing two natural polymers derived from biomass. Lignin is used as a natural UV blocker and powerful antioxidant, providing a bio-based alternative to synthetic sunscreens. Cellulose is transformed into an innovative rheology modifier, designed to integrate seamlessly into existing formulation processes. The pilot plant is currently validating an annual production capacity of between 15 and 50 tonnes, with the ambition of increasing this to between 1,500 and 2,000 tonnes by 2027. By optimising every fraction of the biomass in a single process, the company aims to demonstrate that sustainable materials can finally surpass petrochemical inputs in terms of both cost and performance.