Azelis, a global leader in innovation and distribution services for specialty chemicals and food ingredients, has announced a strategic distribution agreement with AAK, a renowned supplier of sustainably sourced, plant-based ingredients for the beauty and personal care sector. The partnership, effective immediately, will see Azelis distribute AAK’s full range of emollients for personal care in South Korea, marking the company’s first collaboration with AAK in the Asia Pacific region.

This new agreement builds on a successful, long-standing partnership between Azelis and AAK in the Americas for the Food & Nutrition sector. As both companies seek to expand their footprint in the fast-growing personal care market, the South Korean agreement offers a significant opportunity to capitalize on increasing consumer demand for natural, sustainable products.

AAK is known for its over 150 years of expertise in plant-based oils, offering a range of emollients with exceptional oxidative stability that are widely used in skincare, hair care, and cosmetic formulations. These ingredients provide a variety of benefits, including skin conditioning, enhanced sensory experiences, skin repair, and improved product stability—traits that have made AAK’s solutions a preferred choice for formulators worldwide.

The partnership aligns with Azelis’ broader commitment to promoting sustainability and innovation in the personal care industry. By offering AAK’s high-quality emollients, Azelis is enhancing its portfolio of sustainable ingredients, enabling local manufacturers in South Korea to meet the growing market demand for eco-friendly formulations. This move also responds to consumer preferences for natural products, with many seeking cosmetics with higher natural ingredient content and fewer synthetic additives.

Ben Sales, International Sales Manager for Personal Care at AAK, commented on the partnership: "This collaboration with Azelis in South Korea represents an exciting step forward for AAK. With their deep market penetration, outstanding laboratory capabilities, and customer-first approach, Azelis is the ideal partner to help us bring our sustainable solutions to the forefront of the South Korean personal care market."

Sasirin Sirilerdrawee, Asia Pacific Personal Care Market Segment Director at Azelis, also expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership, stating, "Azelis Korea has been at the forefront of supporting the shift towards sustainable formulations in the personal care industry. We are excited to add AAK’s high-quality, plant-based ingredients to our portfolio and look forward to helping local manufacturers achieve their sustainability goals."

The new agreement positions Azelis as a key player in South Korea’s rapidly evolving personal care market, which continues to see strong demand for sustainable and high-performance ingredients. With AAK’s advanced, plant-based solutions now available in the region, Azelis is poised to help meet the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly, natural beauty products.