ÄIO ingredients receive COSMOS certification
ÄIO’s three fermentation-derived cosmetic ingredients: RedOil, ZymaLipid Complex and Encapsulated oil, have officially received COSMOS certification from Cosmécert, confirming compliance with one of the most recognised global standards for natural and sustainable cosmetics.
For ÄIO, this is more than a certification milestone. It is an important validation that biotechnology-derived ingredients can meet the same strict requirements expected from modern natural cosmetic ingredients, while also delivering strong functionality and formulation performance.
What is COSMOS certification?
COSMOS (COSMetic Organic and Natural Standard) is one of the leading international standards for natural and organic cosmetics. Established in 2010 by several major European certification bodies, the standard was created to harmonise requirements across the cosmetics industry and provide a trusted framework for sustainable and transparent cosmetic products.
Today, COSMOS certification is widely recognised by brands, formulators, retailers, and consumers around the world as an indicator of responsible sourcing, environmentally conscious processing, and ingredient transparency.
The certification evaluates multiple aspects of ingredient production, including:
- origin and traceability of raw materials
- processing methods
- environmental impact
- ingredient composition
- communication and labelling requirements
For raw materials such as ÄIO’s ingredients, certification confirms compliance with the COSMOS standard and enables their use in COSMOS-compliant cosmetic formulations.
Why this matters for biotechnology-based ingredients
The cosmetics industry is changing rapidly. Brands are increasingly expected to combine performance with transparency, sustainability, and clear ingredient origin. At the same time, biotechnology is opening entirely new ways of producing cosmetic ingredients.
ÄIO’s ingredients are produced through yeast fermentation, transforming low-value side-streams from the wood and agricultural industries into functional oils and lipid ingredients. Unlike traditional agricultural oils, fermentation allows production in controlled environments independent of climate and seasonal variability.
Receiving COSMOS certification demonstrates that biotechnology-driven ingredients can successfully fit within one of the cosmetics industry’s most established natural standards.
“Having COSMOS certification shows that biotechnology-based ingredients can meet the same high standards as traditional natural ingredients,” says ÄIO’s Head of Cosmetics Development, Dr. Magdalena Koziol.
What does this mean for ÄIO partners?
For formulators, brands, and distributors, certification creates practical value beyond sustainability claims alone.
COSMOS certification helps simplify ingredient selection and product development for brands working with certified or natural-positioned formulations. It provides confidence that ingredients have been independently evaluated against recognised requirements for sourcing, processing, and traceability.
“COSMOS certification gives formulators confidence. It confirms that an ingredient meets strict requirements for origin, processing and sustainability, while still performing in real formulations. For us, it removes uncertainty and makes it easier for partners to work with our ingredients,” explains Dr. Magdalena Koziol.
For ÄIO partners, this means:
- easier integration into COSMOS-compliant formulations
- reduced complexity in sourcing and regulatory alignment
- recognised sustainability credentials
- transparent and traceable ingredient origin
- confidence in ingredient consistency and quality
As sustainability expectations continue to grow across the cosmetics industry, certifications such as COSMOS increasingly play an important role in helping companies communicate credibility and transparency throughout the value chain.
A milestone for ÄIO
The certification covers all three of ÄIO’s cosmetic ingredients:
- RedOil (INCI: Rhodotorula Oil)
- ZymaLipid Complex (INCI: Linoleic/Oleic/Palmitic Acid)
- Encapsulated Oil (INCI: Rhodotorula Ferment)
Together, these ingredients represent ÄIO’s broader vision for the future of fats and oils, combining biotechnology, circular economy principles, and formulation performance into a new generation of sustainable ingredients.
For ÄIO, COSMOS certification is both recognition and confirmation: that sustainability, functionality, and biotechnology can successfully work together within modern cosmetic development. And perhaps most importantly, it shows that the future of cosmetic ingredients is not only natural, but also intentionally designed.