Green coatings
L’Oréal looked for research technologies with strong commercial potential to create environmentally friendly coatings and self-healing materials for deformable surfaces.


- Sector
- Green chemistry & cosmetics
- TRL
- Research to commercialised
- Deadline
- 10 July 2022 (closed)

Why an innovation call?
L’Oréal wishes to capture the latest generation of research technologies with strong commercial potential, or already commercialised, capable of creating nanometric to micrometric coatings (under 5 microns) on deformable materials, without impacting too much the material’s deformability (bending, twisting and, much less, extension) or its original shape.
L’Oréal wants to take this opportunity to join forces with ventures and researchers alike who use technology to solve environmental issues and come up with environmentally friendly coatings and self-healing materials.
What are we looking for?
L’Oréal is calling on startups, ventures and researchers working on one of the two topics of the Open Innovation Challenge.
Environmentally friendly coatings
Coatings applicable to deformable materials, with nanometric to micrometric thin film formation and high substantivity for surfaces with different roughness and charges.
Self-healing materials
Materials with the ability to induce self-healing capabilities to other surfaces.
Conditions and assessment criteria
Other desired properties of the coatings: stability to rubbing and washing with oil, water and detergents, non-tacky, low surface friction and water repellency.
High affinity for many surfaces
Coatings must have an extremely high affinity for hydrophobic surfaces (lipid monolayers), hydrophilic surfaces (anionic functional group monolayers), protein surfaces and non-flat surfaces (roughness up to 500 nm).
Safe application conditions
Coatings must be applied in environmentally and human-friendly conditions (no extreme heat, UV or long processes over 2 hours) and avoid controversial ingredients.
Feasibility
Realistically feasible with current technology or technology likely to be available soon, with potential for commercial or mass production.
Innovation and originality
New ideas or original technology that is the exclusive work of the submitting team or individual, with clear advantages over existing solutions.
Environmental and long-term value
Environmentally and human-friendly solutions, with potential for further investment and long-term commercial development.
What will winners receive?
Winners receive the following incentives.
Mentoring
Connect with industry experts who support your project, give feedback and help you improve your solution.
Partnership
Proofs of concept and access to L’Oréal labs when applicable.
Know-how
L’Oréal’s extensive expertise in the beauty industry.
Knowledge
Privileged access to the partner masterclass.
New market opportunities
Support for your startup’s development.
In collaboration with

L’Oréal
L’Oréal joins forces with ventures and researchers using technology to solve environmental issues, bringing its expertise in the beauty industry and access to its labs when applicable.

Hello Tomorrow Consulting
Hello Tomorrow Consulting connects corporates and public institutions with innovative deep tech startups through tailored scouting programmes. We help organisations discover emerging technologies and connect directly with the startups shaping the future.
Your questions about the challenge
For more information on applications, contact Saurabh Tak (saurabh.tak@hello-tomorrow.org).
What topics does the challenge cover?
Environmentally friendly coatings applicable to deformable materials, and self-healing materials able to induce self-healing capabilities to other surfaces.
What conditions must the coatings meet?
An extremely high affinity for hydrophobic, hydrophilic, protein and non-flat surfaces, and application in environmentally and human-friendly conditions, without controversial ingredients.
How are proposals assessed?
On feasibility, innovation and originality, environmental value and long-term potential.
What do winners receive?
Mentoring, partnership opportunities including proofs of concept and access to L’Oréal labs when applicable, L’Oréal’s beauty industry know-how, privileged access to the partner masterclass and support for startup development.
Who can I contact for more information?
Saurabh Tak (saurabh.tak@hello-tomorrow.org).
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Applications are closed
L’Oréal looked for green coatings and self-healing materials for deformable surfaces. Discover our open calls or contact us to hear about the next ones.