Research shows growing number of patents on biodiversity in cosmetics

[Emma Brooks]

Hi,

This post is about a recent study carried out on trends in patenting in the cosmetics sector.

Biodiversity is recognized as a source of innovation in the cosmetics sector. But how is it addressed in the context of patents? To contribute to efforts to understand how patenting strategies support ethical sourcing practices, The Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) commissioned an analysis of the patent landscape for natural ingredients in the cosmetics sector. This research contains unprecedented information on trends on patents and biodiversity in the cosmetics sector and insights into topics such as most important countries, companies, and plants involved.

A series of four information notes, to be released separately in the run up to the UN Biodiversity Summit (COP10) in October, will provide a summary of the data and main findings of this research.
You may find the first information note, entitled “Trends in patent activity in the cosmetics and perfume sectors,” available for download on our website here: http://www.ethicalbiotrade.org/resources/ under the category "Benefit Sharing".

We hope you will find this research useful. Please let us know if you need any additional information.