Founded at Hamburg University of Technology (TU Hamburg), COLIPI is developing ‘Climate Oil’, a climate-neutral alternative to palm oil and crude oil. The start-up recently secured a place in the L’Oréal Green Sciences Incubator. The collaboration promises to redefine the boundaries of green chemistry. COLIPI received significant business development support from the Startup Port and Startup Port @TUHH.
Sustainable transformation in the cosmetics industry
With its innovative ‘Climate Oil’, the Hamburg-based company Colipi has created a pioneering alternative to conventional palm oil. This development has not only attracted the attention of the industry, but also that of L’Oréal, one of the world’s leading cosmetics groups. As part of the L’Oréal Green Sciences Incubator, an initiative to promote sustainable technologies, COLIPI is now being given the opportunity to further develop its ideas and implement them on a large scale.
Collaborative research for a greener future
The 18-month collaboration between COLIPI and L’Oréal will allow the startup to utilise state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and research resources. The aim is to further develop the CO2 fermentation technology and use it as a basis for the production of bio-based cosmetic ingredients. This technology could also be used in other sectors, such as the food and bioplastics industries.
Support from Startup Port and renowned investors
The Startup Port or Startup Port @TUHH played a central role in the development of companies founded at TU Hamburg in 2022: With its focus on promoting start-ups from science, the network not only provided financial resources: The founders were supported by the EXIST research transfer programme (Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection) and the InnoRampUp programme (IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH). The Startup Port also made a significant contribution to the development of COLIPI by providing mentoring, advice and access to a broad industry network.
Conclusion: A flagship project for sustainable innovation
With L’Oréal’s support, COLIPI has the opportunity to be at the forefront of sustainable chemistry and make a significant contribution to reducing the environmental footprint of the cosmetics industry. This collaboration illustrates the potential of academic research and industrial collaboration to make a real difference in the world.
Further information about the founding history of COLIPI can be found in our Startup Story.
