WWD Beauty | February 9, 2012 | Vol. 206

P11 FACE

＜Title＞

Aiming to make an eco-friendly cosmetic product development facility in Japan, just

like Cosmetic Valley in France

＜Lead＞

Alban Muller is the Honorary President of Cosmetic Valley, the world’s largest perfume

and cosmetics industry cluster, positioned in northwestern France. Upon his arrival to

Japan, we were able to hear from him the approaches of the association, which

promotes eco-responsible and sustainable developments.

＜Main Body＞

Cosmetic Valley, founded in 1994, is an association approved by the French

government, and is the world’s largest concentration of resources within the

cosmetic and perfume industry.

Cosmetic Valley gathers more than 450 cosmetics brands, ingredient suppliers,

government and universities to promote the development of product as well as

human resources of the next generation. Many prestige brands such as Guerlain,

Clarins and Shiseido have a research facility within the cluster. This is the place

where many outstanding products were given birth.

In the interview, Alban Muller, the Honorary President of the association, has expressed

the purpose of Cosmetic Valley. “It is an association which pursues the innovation of

technology in the domain, and at the same time promotes eco-friendly and sustainable

development. Participating entities adopt this Environmental charter, and strive to

implement it as a part of their company’s effort”.

Cosmetic Valley addresses eco-responsibility in every way. By neighboring the farm and

factory, raw material can be processed at a fresh state, and carbon footprint (fuel needed

to ship plants to the factory) can be reduced.

A special facility for filtering the factory’s water discharges is also put into place. “The

world’s population has quadrupled in the past 100 years, and stress to mother earth has

increased. In the EU, manufacturer’s responsibility towards reducing carbon footprint

is increasingly becoming focused. The age of addressing the product’s and

management’s kindness to the skin, as well as to the environment, is about to arrive”.

Honorary President Alban also created Herboretum, a garden of more than 1,000

species of plants, to address the importance of biodiversity. The garden holds workshops

relating to plants, and acts as a place for educating people regarding nature.

Alban also revealed that he is planning on creating a cosmetic cluster in Japan and

starting a new company in Karatsu, Saga. “My partner Steve Bidinger of MK Life is

creating the new company in cooperation with 4 Japanese companies, an investment

fund, and the local government. The new company will promote the region through

creation of new brands, local manufacturing, and export. One of those investors is

building a plant which will start operations in September.

There are a number of reasons for choosing Karatsu as the region, including its

geographical characteristics of being far from radiation and close to Asian countries,

and moreover its promptness of decision making. The local government and related

parties are very cooperative.”

The plant will start its operations this September. “In the near future, I hope to make

facilities similar to those in France’s cosmetic Valley, where many companies can

participate to the research and development of eco-friendly cosmetics”.

＜Caption / Portrait＞

ALBAN MULLER／Honorary President, Cosmetic Valley

PROFILE：

After graduation from ESCP Business School (France), Alban was engaged in studying

export markets for French products in Asia, promotion and distribution of chemical

products including plant extracts.

In 1978, he founded the Alban Muller International company (A.M.I.), which later

became the Alban Muller Group, a cosmetic company pursuing natural manufacturing

process. In 2005, he assumed the position of President of Cosmetic Valley Association,

and has been promoting eco-friendly and sustainable development. In 2011, he was

promoted as the Honorable President.

< Caption / Map>

Cosmetic Valley strides across a number of provinces in the northwestern portion of

France, and is about a one hour car ride away from Paris.

<Caption / Other pictures>

1. Factory of Cosmetic Valley in France

2. Herboretum and its facility