Name

Lignopure GmbH

Legal name

Lignopure GmbH

Website

https://lignopure.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetic Ingredients

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Chemical Manufacturing (325), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Biochemicals & Bio-based Platform Chemicals (cellulose sugars, lignin derivatives, organic acids) (IMAMALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ), Lignin-based Materials & Carbon Products (binders, resins, carbon fiber/activated carbon) (IMAMALAE)

Keywords

• Lignin-based ingredients
• Cosmetic raw materials
• Biopolymer particle technology
• Natural cosmetic pigments
• Upcycled specialty chemicals

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Lignin-based Ingredient Sales: Sale of proprietary lignin-based ingredients including LignoBase (cosmetic-grade) and Arbex (paints and coatings). Products sold directly to cosmetic brands, manufacturers, and formulators, as well as through distribution partners in multiple international territories.
2. Technical Lignin Sales: Sale of technical/sulfur-free lignins to R&D institutions and industrial manufacturers. Lignins are sourced and selected for specific application requirements including color, odor, particle size, and supply reliability.
3. Custom Product Development Services: End-to-end support services for biorefineries and manufacturers including lignin evaluation, benchmarking, process design, particle design, drying, shaping, and performance testing — from lab to pilot scale. Supports companies in creating tailored lignin-based innovations.
4. Science & Research Support Services: Expert consulting and access to proprietary particle technology for academic and industrial researchers exploring lignin's chemistry and applications across sectors. Services include providing well-characterized lignins, benchmarking support, and scale-up guidance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lignopure manufactures and sells lignin-based multifunctional ingredients, primarily the LignoBase line for cosmetics (sunscreens, skin care, hair care, color cosmetics) and Arbex for paints and coatings, produced via a proprietary chemical-modification-free particle technology at a GMP-compliant facility in Buxtehude, Germany. The company also supplies technical lignins and provides custom product development services to biorefineries and research institutions.

Product overview

Lignopure GmbH offers a portfolio of lignin-based solutions anchored by its main consumer product line LignoBase™ for cosmetics and personal care, alongside Arbex for industrial paints and coatings, and Technical Lignin for R&D and industrial applications. The company operates a production facility in Buxtehude, Germany, and is engaged in funded R&D projects (LignoLight, FORFUN) expanding lignin applications into novel materials like foams and leather alternatives. LignoBase comes in Cool (BE25) and Warm (WS25) variants differentiated by brown color undertones, while the broader product family addresses markets from cosmetics to biorefineries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LignoBase: A multifunctional lignin-based ingredient line for cosmetic products including skin care, sun care, hair care, and color cosmetics. Available in three versions: Cool BE25, Warm WS25, and Bronze BS25, each with different brown color undertones.
• Arbex

Products and services

• LignoBase Trademarked line of INCI-approved, non-nano, multifunctional lignin-based cosmetic ingredients offering antioxidant, SPF-boosting, oil control, and natural color properties. Available in Cool (BE25, birch-derived), Warm (WS25, wheat straw and munj sweetcane bagasse-derived), and Bronze (BS25) variants for skin care, sun care, hair care, and color cosmetics formulations.
• Arbex Lignin-derived functional powder pigment additive for paints and coatings, upcycled from biomass processing side streams. Designed for partial or full replacement of iron oxides, providing natural brown color, UV protection, and antioxidant performance in water-borne, solvent-based, reactive, and powder coating systems.
• Technical Lignin Portfolio of sulfur-free technical lignins from various biomass sources (softwood, hardwood, grasses) and extraction processes (hydrolytic, soda), sourced and selected for R&D institutions and industrial manufacturers based on color, odor, particle size, and supply reliability requirements.
• Custom Product Development Services End-to-end development services for biorefineries and manufacturers, covering lignin evaluation, benchmarking, process design, particle design, drying, shaping, and performance testing from lab to pilot scale, enabling partners to develop tailored lignin-based innovations.
• Science and Research Support Services Consulting and access to proprietary particle technology for academic and industrial researchers, providing well-characterized lignins, benchmarking support, and scale-up guidance across sectors exploring lignin chemistry and applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Neutralized 70–98% of intracellular free radicals in human keratinocytes; increased antioxidant activity in O/W cream by up to 43x at 0.5% concentration (64.49% boost)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of HelsinkicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023General coordinator of the FORFUN project ('From Forest to Functional Particles'). FORFUN brings together leading researchers in lignin particle technologies, cosmetic innovation, and food applications. Goal is to develop advanced methods for producing micro- and colloidal particles from lignin and hemicelluloses for high-value life science applications. Project duration May 2023 to April 2026, funded by German Federal Ministry for Education and Research.
• Stockholm UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Research partner in the FORFUN consortium focused on developing advanced methods for producing micro- and colloidal particles from lignin and hemicelluloses for life science applications.
• University of British ColumbiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Research partner in the FORFUN consortium developing advanced methods for producing micro- and colloidal particles from lignin and hemicelluloses for life science applications.
• CH-Bioforce OyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Consortium partner supporting the FORFUN project in developing advanced methods for producing micro- and colloidal particles from lignin and hemicelluloses.
• Montinutra OyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Consortium partner supporting the FORFUN project in developing advanced methods for producing micro- and colloidal particles from lignin and hemicelluloses.
• ECKART GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2023German company founded in 1876 and world leader in pigments and color management for industrial and cosmetics applications. Distributes LignoBase across a vast number of countries in Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific, North, Middle and South America including France, Italy, Turkey, Sweden, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Morocco, South Africa, Australia, China, India, Thailand, and Japan. Partnership enables optimal service experience for cosmetic formulators, brands and manufacturers looking to test, reformulate and develop new formulations with Lignopure's multifunctional upcycled ingredients.
• G&C Kreglinger Europe NVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2023Belgian company with more than two centuries of tradition and expertise in distribution of specialty ingredients for food, beverage, cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and industrial sectors. Distributes LignoBase in Germany, Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. Partnership leverages Kreglinger's distribution and commercializing expertise to create a seamless customer experience bringing Lignopure's LignoBase to personal care brands and formulators in covered territories. Kreglinger also hosts industry seminars showcasing Lignopure ingredients.
• Fraunhofer WKIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Overall coordinator of the LignoLight national research consortium. Project focuses on circular and modular lightweight construction and sustainable furniture design, exploring development of lignin-based foams and leather alternatives. Funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) under the Technologietransfer-Programm Leichtbau. Lignopure is responsible for advancing and optimizing its lignin leather technology.
• Weißensee School of Art and Design, BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in the LignoLight consortium focused on modular lightweight furniture design using lignin-based materials.
• TECNARO GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in the LignoLight consortium working on lignin modification and processing into foams and imitation leather for sustainable furniture applications.
• Bingen Technical University of Applied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in the LignoLight consortium developing lignin-based materials for modular lightweight construction and sustainable furniture.
• CompriseTec GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in the LignoLight consortium contributing to the development of modular, recyclable furniture using lignin-based materials.
• Trippen A. Spieth, M. Oehler GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in the LignoLight consortium developing modular, lightweight, and recyclable furniture designs using lignin-based materials.
• System 180 GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in the LignoLight consortium developing modular, recyclable furniture designs using lignin-based materials.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Bloom Biorenewables: Swiss startup developing biomass-derived, sustainable specialty chemicals from forestry and agricultural residues. Comparable as an early-stage European innovator commercializing high-value bio-based ingredients with sustainability positioning similar to Lignopure.
• MetGen: Finnish industrial biotechnology company producing customized enzymes and bio-based chemicals from biomass, including lignin-derived specialty products. Comparable as a European bio-economy player commercializing lignin and biomass-derived industrial ingredients.
• Vertoro: Dutch startup developing lignin-based raw materials and binders from woody biomass for use in fuels, coatings, and materials. Comparable as an early-stage European lignin valorization player targeting adjacent industrial applications.
• Renmatix: US-based plant-based ingredients company using proprietary supercritical hydrolysis to convert biomass into sugars, lignin, and cellulosic derivatives. Comparable as a technology-driven bio-ingredient startup with overlapping feedstock and lignin platform interests.

Direct peers

• Borregaard: Norwegian biorefinery producing lignin-based bio-products (including the flagship 'LignoTech' ingredients) for cosmetics, agriculture, and industrial applications. Closest direct competitor to Lignopure in commercializing lignin-derived specialty ingredients across multiple end-markets.

Broad incumbents

• Croda International: Global specialty ingredients leader serving personal care, coatings, and industrial markets with a strong focus on natural and sustainable bio-based actives. Comparable as an incumbent channel for multifunctional cosmetic and coating ingredients with vastly larger scale.
• Stora Enso: Global pulp and paper major developing lignin-based products (e.g., Lineo by Stora Enso) for bio-based binders, carbon, and specialty applications. Comparable as a large forestry-side biorefinery player entering the high-value lignin ingredient space.
• Sappi Biotech: Global pulp and paper company with a biotechnology division valorizing lignin side streams into specialty products for coatings, composites, and personal care. Comparable as a large biorefinery player with similar lignin-to-specialty-chemical ambitions.
• UPM Biochemicals: Biorefinery arm of UPM producing bio-based chemicals including lignin-based products for industrial uses at large scale. Comparable as a lignin valorization platform but operating at significantly greater scale and with a broader specialty-chemicals portfolio than Lignopure.

Regional players

• CH-Bioforce: Finnish consortium partner of Lignopure in the FORFUN project developing colloidal and micro-particles from lignin and hemicelluloses. Comparable as a Northern European lignin valorization specialist with overlapping R&D interests, though positioned as a research partner rather than a direct commercial competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xlinkedin.com/company/lignopure
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lignopure
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lignopure
• Instagraminstagram.com/lignopure
• Facebookfacebook.com/LignoPure-105007201215547

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lignopure GmbH