Supporting Vegan Formulations

Beeswax is made up of hundreds of major and minor chemical components that contribute to the overall formula it is used in. When you remove it, you have to take into consideration all of those components and what they are doing in the formula. Formulators should also review other chemistries in the system to ensure the replacements are compatible. Koster Keunen has done a lot work in this area already, and can point you in the right direction, keeping your formulation guidelines in mind.

Because we have been working with wax for over a century, (actually 168 years if you are counting) you could say, we know about beeswax. We understand both the chemistry and functionality it brings to different formulations. Our lab creates vegan versions of formulas that would have typically used beeswax in the past. We can also help developers replace beeswax to make existing formulations vegan. Our research team has dedicated significant time understanding how to replace beeswax in emulsions and anhydrous systems for vegan claims. We quickly learned; it is not about the percentage of beeswax in the formula. While the percentage of beeswax plays a role, it is the function of the wax within each individual system that is the key to understanding how to replace it.

The ethical question is, what is more important: A vegan claim, or sustainably sourced beeswax (and all of the food production, environmental support and poverty reduction that comes from that)? Supporting honey bees and native bees though sustainable beekeeping helps bee colonies thrive. Using sustainable beeswax helps bees by maintaining healthy hives and increasing bee populations. That being said, we also understand the decision to live a vegan lifestyle. For many vegans, that lifestyle means no animal byproducts. What is interesting is that bee products are still a gray area for many vegans. If you choose a sustainable beeswax position, we are here for you. We love bees and beeswax. We also love formulating with it, as it is one of the most unique and multifunctional options around. We can provide samples of sustainable beeswax for your project on request. If you choose a vegan position, we are also here for you. Our expertise in wax chemistry puts us in the unique position to find the best vegan alternative for your project. Formulation Map to Replace Beeswax We understand natural waxes and can support all of your vegan formula needs, whether it is beeswax, shellac wax or lanolin wax replacement. Interested in a formal presentation on this topic? Do you need more data on the science? Reach out to your Koster Keunen sales person or email us! Want to Know More about Our Sustainable Beeswax? We are passionate about this program and are happy to share information about it. Want to help the bees? We can offer you guidance on how to get involved.