“The inauguration of the Baule site marks a new stage in Intact’s development and the industrial-scale deployment of our model,” says Alexis Duval, Chairman and Co-founder of Intact Regenerative.
The site, which began operations in January 2026 and achieved full operational status in April 2026, is the culmination of four years of development and a EUR 75 million investment made in partnership with the Axéréal cooperative, and France’s Strategic Transitions Fund, and Banque des Territoires.
Low carbon plant extraction technology
The industrial process developed by Intact is based on an innovative plant extraction technology that separates the various components of pulses — proteins, starches and fibres — using only air flows at ambient temperature, without water, solvents or chemical processing aids.
This process enables Intact to develop a new generation of functional plant proteins designed to meet the most demanding food applications while significantly reducing environmental impact. The starch-rich fractions are subsequently transformed through fermentation and distillation into a unique extra-neutral alcohol with a low carbon footprint.
The entire plant is fully valorised, producing no waste and operating without fossil fuels, powered solely by electricity and renewable energy sources.
Sustainable alcohol
Through the circular valorisation of pulses, the company — founded in 2022 by Alexis Duval, Fanny de Castelnau, and Christopher Hervé — produces two complementary families of ingredients:
– Nature®, a range of functional proteins for human and animal nutrition;
– Pulse®, the world’s first second-generation extra-neutral alcohol derived from pulses, designed for the spirits, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.
Based on an eco-design approach, Pulse® delivers a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of more than 80% compared with conventional alcohols.
Given that ethyl alcohol (ethanol) may constitute up to 95% of a perfume’s formula, adopting a low-carbon alternative offers a substantial opportunity to reduce the product’s overall environmental impact.
Intact’s Pulse® alcohol has received ISCC EU IX-A certification, confirming its “second-generation” status and significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. As part of its “Sustainable Exception” environmental program, Rémy Cointreau has entered into a three-year supply agreement for Pulse® alcohol, expected to reduce its carbon footprint by an estimated 1,200 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
In the cosmetics sector, Guerlain became the first perfume house in the world to incorporate Pulse® into one of its creations, L’Homme Idéal Cologne Forte, following two years of joint development with Intact.
Agricultural ecosystem
Pulses are the only major protein crops capable of naturally fixing atmospheric nitrogen into soils through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia, naturally occurring soil microorganisms. This unique characteristic eliminates dependence on fossil fuel-derived nitrogen fertilisers while contributing to soil regeneration and reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture.
To build this sustainable agricultural value chain, Intact partnered with Axéréal from its inception in 2022. With nearly 10,000 member farmers, Axéréal is one of France’s leading agricultural cooperatives. In 2026, more than 2,000 farmers are engaged in the Cultiv’Up Regen sustainable agriculture programme, reflecting remarkable growth since its launch in 2024.
Located in Baule, at the heart of one of Europe’s leading grain-producing regions and in close proximity to Cosmetic Valley, Intact’s industrial site sits at the crossroads of several strategic industries, including agriculture, food production, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and spirits.
Beyond human nutrition, Intact Regenerative believes that proteins derived from its extraction technology also hold significant potential in cosmetic and personal care products. “It would make sense, and we are receiving requests in this area. Our R&D center is working on various projects and exploring potential patent applications in this field,” Fanny de Castelnau, co-founder and general manager of Intact, told Premium Beauty News.
