Ecarmin
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
Ecarmin is a new Biotechnology based startup founded in April 2021 and was supported by IAPMEI Startup Voucher.
Its main objectif is to produce the red colorant E120 used in the most food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, with a higher quality and based on European standards.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
Ecarmin is the first Portuguese company specialized in producing different types and forms of red colorant based on carminic acid extracted from cochineal insects like the E120, The allergen free E120 and the purified carminic acid, this colorant is used in Europe in the majority of food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies.
Our Innovation compared to our competitors has two axes, a process Innovation where the process of production of the colorant will be ecofriendly and 100% Portuguese, taking into consideration that the whole carmine colors in Europe are imported from Peru or Mexico, Ecarmin will produce a 100% Portuguese carmine colors based on European Standards from its row material to the final product. And a Product Innovation, where, among our products, we will produce for the first time in Europe an allergen free E120 specially designed for food industries making this natural color safer and of a better quality.
The most important part of our project is that is essentially based on circular economy, where from the process of production of the colorant and its raw material, we will generate a range of valuable products that are based on the waste of other products like:
- Liquid Biofertilizer: produced with the waste of the cactus paddles after using them for cochineal production
- Prickly pear jam: produced from the fruits that will be naturally present on the cactus
- Prickly pear seed oil: one of the most expensive cosmetic oils in the market today, it will be produced based on the seeds that will be extracted during the process of making the jam
Our Mission: is to design, produce and market the natural ingredient, cochineal red, of the highest quality and according to international and European standards in order to find solutions to the specific needs of our customers and contribute to their success.
Key objectives for sustainability
Ecarmin develops a strategy to meet the needs of current generations based on the basic pillars of sustainability, economic, social, environmental and institutional.
As mentioned before, Ecarmin is engaging in the circular economy on a large scale in order to reduce costs but especially losses and waste that can impact the environment.
with the circular economy, the company will establish for the first time in europe the production of dyes which will avoid importing from abroad to european countries. this is our major action to lower the carbon footprint rate on the planet.
Also, the allergen-free dye is a saviour to protect the future generation knowing that the classic dye causes allergies and overexcitement in children.
Then, our prickly pear cuture will be exploited to the maximum to reach the goal of zero waste. the fruit will be transformed through collaborations into jam, the fruit's seeds will give the most expensive oil in the cosmetic world, and the palms will generate the biofertilizer.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Our product adopts the concept of quality color, that is, a great color in the food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical product that pleases the customer but also does not harm the health and respects the environment.
This will be marked through our simple and ecological packaging, our partners that will be selected in order to join the same values and our marketing strategy that puts forward the health of the human being and the planet for a longevity.
Key objectives for inclusion
Ecarmin is going to integrate a pseudo virgin market in Europe and in the world with its touch of innovation on the dye. The integration of this market is going to be forced by a solid and modern marketing strategy thanks to a young and polyvalent team.Ecarmin seeks to make multiple partnerships in order to become more prosperous and expand in the market like partnerships with financial institutes, agricultural companies, online marketplaces, research and development centers, municipalities or large agri-food industries and large industries of diversified production. Ecarmin will have partnerships with farms in Madeira like Aquilino farm and El Tlapanochestli farm, this will be a legal business arrangement to combine resources and benefits. Partnerships with cactus farms and Cochineal cultivation farms. It will offer financial and taxation benefits for both partners as well as facilitating stock relief. These collaborations will also enhance Ecarmin's sustainability goals and contribute to the development of the industries and the economy of the farms. The company will also work with agricultural research centers in Madeira, which will allow the reduction of costs for the launch but above all to obtain notoriety and reputation in the food market in Portugal. One of the most important partnerships is with the Instituto Politécnico de Braganca. This agreement will not only provide Ecarmin with a head office in Braganca, but also with offices and facilities in this area. Another advantage is the availability of different laboratories for research, testing, inspection and innovation within this institution. This also contributes to the reduction of costs and the ease of access to materials and commodities necessary for R&D. A partnership with the chemical supply industries, like Tuebingen Chemical and TER chemicals, is also necessary.
Innovative character
Ecarmin is the first Portuguese company specialized in producing different types and forms of red colorant based on carminic acid extracted from cochineal insects like the E120, The allergen free E120 and the purified carminic acid. Our Innovation compared to our competitors has two axes, a Process Innovation and a Product Innovation: 1- The process Innovation: First of all, and for the first time in Europe, the process of production of the carminic acid based colorant will be made in Europe from the production of the raw materials, which is the cochineal production that will be made in Madeira, to the final products which will make Ecarmin the first real European producer of the carminic acid based colorant. Added to that, our process of production developed in Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO) will be safer and ecofriendly without the production of toxic metal ions during the process. Moreover, Ecarmin’s process of production has cheaper costs compared to the traditional process used by our competitors and produce a higher quantity. Finally, the process of production of Ecarmin is based on the circular economy where we will transform our wastes into valuable products like liquid biofertilizers, prickly pear jam and prickly pear seeds oil in partnership with other companies to adapt the zero-waste method. 2- The product Innovation: Our products are based on European standards, they do have longer conservation time and are of a better quality compared to the same products in the market today since we do not add toxic compounds during the production in order to develop products with the highest quality and purity. Added to that, among its products, Ecarmin will commercialize an allergen free E120 colorant for the first time in Europe, specially designed for food and pharmaceutical industries. This innovative product will make Ecarmin gain notoriety in the European market. The allergen free E120 colorant will be a first in Europe.
