CL Tech uses UHT sterilisation to eliminate need for preservatives

Using a UHT sterilisation process Laboratoire Cosmétique CL Tech has formulated a personal care range that does not require preservatives.

Consumer anxiety about the health impact of conventional preservatives such as parabens has pushed manufacturers into a search for alternatives.

Preservation beyond formulation CL Tech has pursued this challenge by looking outside the formulation and has developed a sterilisation technology that eliminates the need for preservatives in the first place.

The France-based company exposes its newly launched Dermatherm personal care products to high temperatures killing any micro-organisms and then immediately cools them.

To ensure that no bacteria or fungi enter the formulations the procedure is conducted in a cleanroom and the formulations are packaged in airless containers with anti-microbial lids.

CL Tech director Didier Lopez told CosmeticsDesign.com that his background in engineering and the fact that the company did not have any existing products to work with helped him look beyond the formulation and find an innovative solution to the preservation challenge.

Lopez said the UHT sterilisation process not only removes the need for preservatives but does not affect the efficacy of formulations.

Looking for business partners CL Tech is currently looking for manufacturing partners, especially in international markets, to expand the use of its sterilisation technology.

The company has also launched a range of organic cosmetics developed using the technology in pharmacies across France and intends to launch more products in the coming months.

Products using only essential ingredients The Ecocert-certified products are formulated under the principle that only what is essential for the skin and hair should be used.

This approach meant that a lot of work on the association of ingredients and their proportions was necessary to ensure that the sensual properties of the products were appealing to consumers, R&D specialist Mylène Pillot told CosmeticsDesign.com.

All the active ingredients in the Dermatherm range of skin, hair and baby care products are formulated with thermal water found near CL Tech's headquarters in Ales.