THE WHAT? Shiseido is investing one billion yen in the CHITOSE Group’s MATSURI project to support the growth of a sustainable microalgae industry in collaboration with CHITOSE BIO EVOLUTION PTE. LTD., Shiseido aims to mass-produce microalgae-based cosmetic ingredients and containers.

THE DETAILS?  Microalgae, utilising sunlight, convert carbon dioxide into various organic compounds and can be grown in harsh terrains like deserts. Due to their high biomass production efficiency, microalgae represent a renewable alternative to fossil resources. Shiseido and the CHITOSE Group are working together to leverage these characteristics.

THE WHY?  The CHITOSE Group, a consortium of biotech companies, leads the MATSURI project to develop a sustainable microalgae industry. They’ve built a 5-hectare facility, the CHITOSE Carbon Capture Central (C4), and aim to expand to 100 hectares by 2027 and 2,000 hectares by 2030. The Green Innovation Fund is considering financing the project’s research and development.