
Hanoi (VNA) - German group BASF has launchednew rambutan-derived bioactives from by-products, offering a host ofopportunities for cosmetics firms in Vietnam and benefiting the local rural community.
These first materials have produced through the programme “rambutanplant development” of BASF - an initiative on socially and environmentallyresponsible supply chain, towards producing bioactives from raw materials inVietnam.
The company has been working with its Vietnamese partners since 2015 to harnessthe cosmetic potential of the tropical fruit as part of its rambutan programme.
The initiative connects BASF, local farmers, scientists and non-governmental organisations,aiming to form a responsible supply chain.
The ramburan fruit itself is rich in iron, Vitamin C, fibres and antioxidants.The company also found that by-products such as rinds and seeds are just asvaluable.
The project in Vietnam helps ensure safer working conditions, fair income,health insurance and gender equality for local rambutan growers.
BASF also established a team, which is supportedby the Centre for Rural Economic Development (CRED)- a nonprofit organisation specialising in developing livelihoods for poor anddisadvantaged groups in Vietnam. The team works to maintain rambutan gardens,harvest raw materials and prepare them for extraction of bioactive ingredients.
Accordingto global cosmetics market analysts, the demand of consumers in developedcountries for natural cosmetic products increases 20 percent, even 50 percentannually. In Vietnam, each people can spend about 4 USD for cosmetics a year.
Vietnam becomes a potential market for foreign cosmetics firms. The project opensup opportunities for Vietnamese cosmetics brands to learn experience frominternational firms, thus promoting their development.-VNA