Keracol was founded in 2011 by Professors Richard Blackburn and Chris Rayner to turn sustainability research from the University of Leeds into real‑world innovation.
Rooted in the University of Leeds and based in the innovative Nexus building, Keracol was founded in 2011 by Professors Richard Blackburn and Chris Rayner to transform sustainability research into real-world solutions.
We create functional, natural, science-based, and sustainable ingredients, formulations, and products. Through Keracol R&D Partnership Services, we provide end-to-end solutions—from biomaterials to final product design and validation.
Our expertise spans natural sourcing, green chemistry, analytical testing, custom formulation, efficacy and safety evaluation, and scale-up support. By combining scientific rigour with sustainability principles, we deliver innovations that are effective, ethical, and built for the future of beauty and personal care.
● Services
Driven by the expertise of our scientists and backed by forward-thinking innovators
1. R&D Partnership & Product Development
• End‑to‑end support from concept to market‑ready product
• Plant-based, upcycled raw material sourcing and ingredient development
• Custom formulation design for skincare, haircare, hair colouration, colour cosmetics and personal care
• Pilot‑scale production and scale‑up support
2. Analytical & Characterisation Expertise
• Spectroscopy: NMR, UV‑Vis, FT‑IR, ICP-OES
• Colour Measurement: Spectrometry and Colorimetry
• Chromatography: HPLC, LC-MS
• Materials testing: DSC, TGA, tensile, SEM-EDX
• Colour and stability testing for natural pigments and actives
• In-house QC testing for ingredient consistency and purity
3. Extraction & Green Chemistry Processes
• Sustainable extraction of bioactive compounds from plant materials
• Refinement and purification of functional ingredients
• Upcycling agricultural and food industry by‑products into high‑value materials
4. Colour application & testing
• Colour application onto various substrates, included different hair types and other fibres
• Colour measurement
• Colour fastness evaluation (washing, shampooing, abrasion, light)
5. Efficacy & Safety Testing
• In-vitro screening for functional performance (antioxidant, anti-aging etc)
• Stability and compatibility testing in formulations
• Guidance on regulatory and safety compliance for personal care products
6. Commercialisation & Scale-Up Support
• Technology transfer from lab to production scale
• Pilot-scale extraction and formulation (up to ~50 kg batches)
• Support for regulatory documentation, ESG alignment, and sustainability claims
7. Education & Transparency
• Workshops and collaboration with partners to improve sustainability
• Science communication and anti-greenwashing guidance
• Sharing expert knowledge on plant-based innovation and circular economy