CLR Berlin

What CLR Berlin does

CLR Berlin (legal name: CLR Chemisches Laboratorium Dr. Kurt Richter GmbH) is a 100-year-old, privately-held German manufacturer of cosmetic active ingredients headquartered in Berlin. Founded in 1926 and operating with 101–250 employees under managing director Dr. Stefan Borchert, the company develops biotechnologically-derived active ingredients — leveraging fermentation, peptide systems, probiotic and postbiotic lysates (including Bifida Ferment Lysate and Lactococcus Ferment Lysate), plant extracts, and extremophile organisms (Galdieria sulphuraria) — for skin and hair care applications. Its portfolio comprises roughly 30–40 trademarked CLR™ branded actives, including SkinCharge CLR™, CefiraProtect CLR™, G+C Complex CLR™, CutiGuard CLR™, CutiFine CLR™, MultiMoist CLR™, ProRenew Complex CLR™, CutiBiome CLR™, MPC™, and Phytosan™ NewAge, each supported by in vivo clinical data and certified under NATRUE, COSMOS, and Halal standards.

CLR operates a B2B ingredient-supply model, selling exclusively to cosmetics brands, private label manufacturers, and in-house R&D/formulation teams worldwide. Distribution is executed through a network of regional distributors in South Korea (Skin Science Co.), Taiwan (Tannmer), India (Pharmacos India), Brazil (IMCD Brasil), Thailand (PT Citra Lestari Rejeki), Italy (Inquiaroma), and Canada, supplemented by direct presence in Germany and a website-driven inquiry channel; pricing is non-public and negotiated on direct inquiry. Customer acquisition is event-driven, centered on participation in major cosmetics industry trade shows including the in-cosmetics series, SEPAWA Congress, BIO Asia-Taiwan, and Making Cosmetics, supported by scientific content marketing (including 119 published formulation concepts) targeting formulators. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, SA8000, EFfCI GMP, and six consecutive years of EcoVadis Gold (top 5% globally) certifications, operates three photovoltaic systems supplying 30–40% of its electricity demand, and describes itself as an independent, owner-managed Mittelstand business.

Name

CLR Berlin

Legal name

CLR Chemisches Laboratorium Dr. Kurt Richter GmbH

Website

https://clr-berlin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CLR Berlin is a 100-year-old, privately-held German B2B manufacturer of biotechnologically-derived cosmetic active ingredients (peptides, probiotic lysates, plant and algae extracts) sold to global cosmetics brands and formulators through regional distributors under NATRUE, COSMOS, and Halal certifications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetic Active Ingredients

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural/Organic & Clean Skincare (CRABAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare (CRABAAAF)

Keywords

• Cosmetic active ingredients
• Skin care actives
• Hair care ingredients
• Biotechnological cosmetics
• Fermented cosmetic actives

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Active Ingredient Sales to Cosmetic Manufacturers: CLR Berlin supplies high-quality cosmetic active ingredients to cosmetics brands, formulators, and manufacturers worldwide. Revenue is generated through the sale of proprietary active ingredient products (actives) to B2B customers, with formulation support services bundled alongside product supply. The company operates exclusively B2B, selling to cosmetics companies rather than consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CLR Berlin develops and manufactures biotechnologically derived cosmetic active ingredients for skin and hair care formulations. The company supplies these proprietary specialty actives on a B2B basis to cosmetics brands, contract manufacturers, and formulators worldwide as an established specialty ingredient producer.

Product overview

CLR Berlin is a 100-year-old German manufacturer of high-quality active ingredients for the cosmetics industry, specializing in biotechnological solutions for skin and hair care applications. The company operates as an independent, privately owned business based in Berlin. CLR's product portfolio centers on approximately 30-40 named active ingredient products (CLR™ branded actives) that are scientifically proven and marketed to cosmetics manufacturers worldwide. Key products include SkinCharge CLR™ (digital lifestyle support), CefiraProtect CLR™ (exposome protection from fermented Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens), G+C Complex CLR™ (Bifida Ferment Lysate-based anti-aging), CutiGuard CLR™ (algae-based longevity), CutiFine CLR™ (pore refining), MultiMoist CLR™ (hydration), ProRenew Complex CLR™ (skin renewal), CutiBiome CLR™ (microbiota balance), MPC™ Milk Peptide Complex, and Phytosan™ NewAge (longevity). The company also provides formulation concepts, ready-to-use formulations, and technical documentation to support product adoption. CLR emphasizes science-driven innovation with scientifically proven effects, natural and sustainable ingredients, and compliance with major quality and sustainability standards including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, EcoVadis Gold, COSMOS, NATRUE, and Halal certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CLR Berlin Cosmetic Active Ingredients A portfolio of CLR-branded biotechnologically derived active ingredients developed and manufactured by CLR Berlin for incorporation into skin and hair care formulations by cosmetics brands and manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• MPC™ delivers visible improvements in skin firmness and wrinkle reduction within 14 days
• +5 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Weleda (insights contribution)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Weleda contributed insights at the NATRUE Natural Cosmetics Industry Forum 2026 alongside Mintel, where structural shifts in the natural and organic cosmetics sector were discussed. CLR Berlin was the host/venue sponsor of the forum.
• Skin Science Co., LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal distributor for CLR Berlin's active ingredients in South Korea. Representing CLR at in-cosmetics Korea (July 2026, Seoul) with a sales booth (D-J50).
• TannmercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal distributor for CLR Berlin in Taiwan. Representing CLR at BIO Asia-Taiwan 2026 (Taipei City, July 2026) with sales booth i1127.
• Pharmacos IndiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal distributor for CLR Berlin in India. Representing CLR at Cosmo Home Tech Expo (New Delhi, July 2026) with sales booth K6.
• IMCD Brasil Com. Ind. Produtos Quimicos Ltda.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal distributor for CLR Berlin in Brazil. Representing CLR at in-cosmetics Latin America (São Paulo, September 2026) with sales booth H50.
• PT Citra Lestari RejekicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal distributor for CLR Berlin in Thailand. Representing CLR at in-cosmetics Asia (Bangkok, November 2026) with sales booth AF10.
• Inquiaroma ItalycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal distributor for CLR Berlin in Italy. Representing CLR at Making Cosmetics (Milano, date TBA) with sales booth TBA.
• NATRUE – The International Natural and Organic Cosmetics AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLR Berlin participates in NATRUE forums and its ingredients carry NATRUE certification. The company was mentioned at the NATRUE Natural Cosmetics Industry Forum 2026 in Berlin, where industry trends and scientific advances in natural cosmetics were discussed.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mibelle Biochemistry: Switzerland-based developer and supplier of biotechnological and plant-derived cosmetic active ingredients to B2B brand customers. Closely comparable to CLR Berlin in size, biotech-focused active portfolio (fermentation, peptides, plant cell culture), in vivo clinical validation methodology, and positioning as a specialty alternative to the large personal-care chemicals incumbents.
• Provital Group: Spain-headquartered specialist supplier of natural and biotech cosmetic active ingredients (plant stem cells, probiotics, peptides) to B2B cosmetics customers. Closely comparable as a similarly sized, science-driven boutique alternative to the chemical incumbents, with comparable certifiable-natural positioning and in vivo efficacy claims.

Broad incumbents

• Croda International: Global specialty chemicals company with a major Personal Care actives and formulation aids portfolio serving cosmetics brands worldwide. Competes in the same B2B cosmetic active ingredient space as CLR but at much larger scale and across a broader ingredient portfolio including surfactants, conditioning agents, and specialty actives (e.g., Sederma).
• Evonik Industries: German specialty chemicals company whose Care Technologies business line supplies specialty actives, silicones, and functional ingredients to the cosmetics industry. Overlaps with CLR Berlin's skincare actives offering while also operating across pharma, coatings, and industrial — providing a clear 'broad incumbent' comparator on both geography (Germany) and category.
• BASF Personal Care: Operating division of BASF supplying actives, UV filters, polymers, and surfactants to personal care formulators globally. Directly comparable as a competitor to CLR in cosmetic active ingredients from a Germany-headquartered supplier, though operating at vastly greater scale and product breadth.
• Symrise (Diana & Cosmetic Ingredients): German-headquartered supplier of fragrance, flavour, and cosmetic ingredients including biotech actives and botanical extracts to global cosmetics brands. A direct broad-incumbent competitor with overlap in active ingredients for skincare, and a natural geographic (Germany) and category comparator for CLR.
• dsm-firmenich: Global leader in nutrition, health, and beauty ingredients, supplying personal care actives, vitamins, and fragrances to cosmetics brands. Competes head-on with CLR's biotech active ingredient proposition, particularly in skin microbiome and longevity categories, with the scale and scientific marketing of a Top-3 global ingredient supplier.
• Givaudan Active Beauty: Swiss-headquartered fragrance and beauty ingredients house with a dedicated Active Beauty unit producing biotech, botanical, and peptide-based cosmetic actives. Highly comparable to CLR in product category focus (longevity, microbiome, skin barrier), while operating at much larger global scale.
• Ashland (Life Sciences / Personal Care): US-headquartered specialty ingredients supplier providing polymers, biofunctionals, and specialty actives to the global personal care market. Overlaps with CLR in selling clinically validated cosmetic actives to cosmetics brands, with broader portfolio coverage in formulation auxiliaries.
• Lubrizol Life Science (Beauty): Personal care and beauty ingredient division of Lubrizol (Berkshire Hathaway) supplying polymers, conditioning agents, and active ingredients to cosmetics brands. Directly comparable as a competitor in cosmetic active ingredient sales, with broader formulation-aid portfolio and parent-company scale advantages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@clrberlin5047
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clr-berlin
• Instagraminstagram.com/clrberlin
• Xx.com/ClrBerlin_1926

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 CLR Berlin