Glycolic acid is getting a broader route into the North American beauty market. Univar Solutions has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with CABB Group covering the United States and Canada, expanding access to CABB’s glycolic acid portfolio and, specifically, Glycos Clear 70. The partnership extends an existing relationship between the companies in EMEA into North America.
The move puts a widely used exfoliating active into Univar Solutions’ North American beauty and personal care portfolio at a time when formulators are looking for multifunctional ingredients that can support claims around skin texture, tone and radiance. Glycolic acid is commonly incorporated into skin care formulations for its exfoliating properties, making the ingredient relevant across a range of facial and body-care formats.
Under the exclusive agreement, Univar Solutions will provide customers in the U.S. and Canada with access to CABB’s glycolic acid technology, backed by Univar Solutions’ specialty ingredient distribution infrastructure, technical sales organization and formulation support. CABB says the partnership is intended to provide robust supply and consistent performance for personal care customers.
Glycos Clear 70 is produced using renewable electricity, according to CABB. The company positions the material within its broader portfolio of high-purity and customized chemical solutions serving personal care and other specialty markets. CABB operates five production sites and has approximately 1,000 employees and €494 million in revenue, according to the companies.
The partnership also fits into a broader expansion of Univar Solutions’ beauty and personal care ingredient offering. The company says it is investing in growth areas and expanding its portfolio to give customers access to ingredients and technical capabilities that can support differentiated formulations. Earlier this year, Univar Solutions also expanded an exclusive botanical-extract partnership in EMEA, while its broader Ingredients + Specialties business continues to build supplier relationships across specialty markets.
For the North American skin care market, the development is notable less as a new glycolic acid launch than as a new supply and distribution channel for an established active, potentially giving formulators greater access to CABB’s glycolic acid technology while pairing it with Univar Solutions’ regional distribution and technical infrastructure.
