Cosmetic Valley Beauty Hub

Promoting the Cosmetics Industry

Designing a Space for the Future of Cosmetics

The current health crisis has impacted the cosmetics industry, particularly the makeup market, with sales down 17% since the beginning of the year (source: BFMTV). Lockdown measures and mask mandates have indeed changed consumer habits. The way people apply makeup and choose products is evolving. Consumers are seeking to make more informed purchasing decisions.

Aware of these new challenges, the French cosmetics industry is rolling out new strategies to revitalize the sector and remain competitive in an industry projected to be worth $716 billion by 2025 (source: Fashion Network).

Thus, right in the heart of the city of Chartres, the Cosmetic Valley teams, alongside local elected officials and economic stakeholders from the Centre-Val de Loire region, inaugurated the Beauty Hub. Equans’ teams supported this project by contributing their expertise in the design of cosmetic laboratories.

A 3-in-1 hub for cosmetics product innovation

The Beauty Hub is the first phase of the project to build the future International House of Cosmetics, scheduled for 2023. This accelerator, dedicated to innovation in the fragrance and cosmetics sector, is housed in a 200m² space within a renovated former middle school. This hub for creativity and collaboration is home to five startups in the cosmetics and fragrance industry. For six months, they receive support for their projects through themed workshops, technical expertise, and a funding committee.

Beauty Hub
The venue offers its guests:

A coworking space with 12 offices

A laboratory (Beauty Fab) that enables the development of new manufacturing processes and the discovery of new production machinery

A space dedicated to prototyping (Beauty Exp) equipped with two 3D printers

Beauty Hub: A Showcase of French Cosmetics Expertise and Excellence

- A project led by:
  
  Cosmetic Valley
  
  Aircos
  
  Aptar
  
  Chanel Fragrance & Beauty
  
  I3DP
  
  L'Oréal
  
  LVMH Research
  
  Nippon Shikizai
  
  MS Beautilab
  
  Yves Rocher
- A Multi-Purpose Objective
  
  Supporting the industry's energy transition through the development of cosmetics that promote better resource management
  
  Ensure the sector's competitiveness by modernizing the production line through innovation
  
  Create a network of locally based businesses to help drive economic recovery

Equans France: Partner in the Design of the Beauty Hub

Equans France is a preferred partner for these projects thanks to its recognized expertise in the process industry. Beyond the energy sector, Equans France’s teams also have expertise in the life sciences sector: healthcare, cosmetics, and perfumery… They possess specific expertise in the design, layout, modernization, and construction of controlled-atmosphere environments and workspaces.

For the Beauty Hub project, Equans France therefore supported Cosmetic Valley on issues related to environmental design, functional equipment, and a cleanroom (ISO 8) feasibility study. The goal was to provide a customized solution tailored to the needs of the cosmetics industry. The teams then deployed and completed the installation, which was approved by Cosmetic Valley. This collaboration continues today with support for improving the environments and equipment that have been put in place.

A Preferred Partner for Developing the Cosmetics Industry of Tomorrow

Equans France’s expertise in the life sciences sector enables this industry to benefit from high-performance, custom-built environments to accelerate its transformation. The solutions designed and deployed by Equans France also contribute to the low-carbon transition of cosmetics manufacturers through improved management of the resources they use. Thanks to this project, the startups in the program have access to a modern, high-performance laboratory to develop and showcase the next generation of natural cosmetic products manufactured in France.

Finally, this Beauty Hub helps enhance the appeal of the Métropole Chartres competitiveness cluster, which is already at the forefront of this field with its range of companies and trade shows dedicated to the sector, such as Pharmacosmetech, scheduled for September 15–17, 2020. Now more than ever, Equans France is committed to supporting its clients in the cosmetics sector as they transition toward carbon neutrality.