RIGA, Latvia – Energy commodities trader and convenience store network VIRŠI-A and Latvia-based biotechnology company Alternative Plants have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a sustainable cosmetic-grade raw material from the grounds of Virši coffee.
This collaboration includes research on the effects of chemical compounds extracted from Virši coffee grounds on human skin cells and the possibility of their use in rejuvenating and anti-fatigue body, facial, and hair care products.
“This is a project that allows us to introduce a new, sustainable raw material to the cosmetics industry, derived from coffee grounds. Our goal is not only to create effective ingredients but also to promote a full-cycle approach to resource utilization,” says board member and co-founder of Alternative Plants and Mārtiņš Borodušķis.
The journey of Virši coffee begins in Brazil, in the plantation of the Veloso family, committed to high sustainability standards and responsible agriculture practices. The coffee used in this project is Rainforest Alliance certified, confirming the high standards of both the plantation and the production process.
Alternative Plants is one of the Baltic region’s innovative developers of cosmetic-grade raw materials, whose portfolio already has five unique ingredients created from natural raw materials.
Since June this year, the Alternative Plants laboratory has been researching Virši coffee grounds to refine extraction methods, aiming to obtain a diverse range of high-value and skin-beneficial chemical compounds, study their effects on human skin cells, and explore innovative applications in cosmetics.
Presently, the new cosmetic-grade material is intended to serve as a stimulating ingredient in facial, body, and hair care anti-fatigue cosmetic products with rejuvenating and protective benefits.
