Shiseido has started several test operations for in-house cultivation of its own plant-based raw materials. As a first step, the leading Japanese cosmetic manufacturer has installed a container-type facility in its Kakegawa factory, thus enabling plants used as raw materials for active ingredients to be grown in a controlled environment. The next step is the set up of an open field test farm that is debuting full-scale operation from April.

Shiseido is thus making another step forward its aims to launch cosmetics products formulated with plants that have been cultivated under the company’s supervision by 2014 at the earliest. Shiseido will gradually expand the on-site cultivation and production of sources of plant raw materials while also gaining cooperation from raw material manufacturers.

Interior of test farm facility in Shiseido’s Kakegawa factory © Shiseido Group

Quality and safety

Of course, the aim of this initiative is to address the expansion of the natural- and organic-oriented segment of the cosmetics market. Shiseido also aims at increasing reassurance regarding safety and traceability regarding its products, while standing out from the mass of competitors that outsource their production to other companies.

According to the Japanese company, there are at least three main advantages to in-house production of botanical ingredients required for cosmetic products:

 supervising culture from the stage of seeds and seedlings makes it possible to procure raw materials that are “safe and reliable,” “of stable quality” and “traceable,” enabling identification of the background of plants and producers,
 controlling cultivation conditions will also broaden the potential of producing raw materials that contain greater amounts of active ingredients and using such high quality plant raw materials will contribute to the development of products with strong market competitiveness,
 stable harvests will help securing supplies and reducing price fluctuation risk.

Furthermore, Shiseido also plans to use natural energy as a heat source in certain parts of the plant farm.