This year Cosphatec is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Founded in 2005, Cosphatec was born with a clear vision to rethink cosmetic ingredients – sustainably, innovatively and responsibly. Since then the company has grown into a leading innovative natural and sustainable raw material manufacturer for the cosmetics industry that develops solutions that fulfil the highest standards – setting benchmarks for the industry.
“Our first “company headquarters” was my parents’ old shed. I used to stick the labels on the packaging there with a hairdryer. Those were real start-up times“.
EURO COSMETICS:
First, we would like to congratulate you on your 20th company anniversary. An important milestone. What does the company’s 20th anniversary mean to you personally?
Frank Brauns:
When I look back on the beginnings of Cosphatec, it fills me with deep gratitude – and yes, also with pride. What once began as a vision – to make the cosmetics industry more sustainable with natural raw materials – is now a reality. Over the past 20 years, my team and I have not only developed innovative solutions, but also gained many international partners who share our values. Together with our subsidiaries in France and China, we have been able to set global trends – starting from our headquarters in Hamburg. For me, this anniversary is not just a chance to look back on what we have achieved, but above all a motivation to continue with the same passion for the next 20 years.
EURO COSMETICS:
Can you tell us how the whole Cosphatec adventure started?
Frank Brauns:
The start of Cosphatec was anything but glamorous – but all the more passionate. I founded the company on my own and really did everything myself in the first few years: from labeling the products to delivering them. I still remember exactly how I drove 500-kilo deliveries to our first customers myself. Our first ‘company headquarters’ was my parents’ old shed. I used to stick the labels on the packaging there with a hairdryer. Those were real start-up times – characterized by a lot of improvisation, but also by a clear vision. And it was precisely these early years that shaped Cosphatec: personal, down-to-earth and with a strong will to make a difference.”
EURO COSMETICS:
You have established yourself as one of the leading suppliers of natural raw materials for the cosmetics industry. Looking back, what were the biggest challenges?
Frank Brauns:
on retrospect, the biggest challenge was certainly building trust – with our customers as well as with our suppliers. Especially in the early years, we were met with a lot of skepticism. We first had to earn our place and develop a brand that stood for reliability, quality and genuine values. Our networks were crucial here: they literally opened doors for us and helped us to establish long-term relationships. Of course, there are still challenges today. Global crises, political uncertainties or logistical bottlenecks – all of these have an impact on international business relationships. But we invested early on in a strong network and resilient projects that help us to react flexibly and keep supply chains stable. Our first step towards global sales was certainly a defining moment: in 2015, we launched our market entry in Asia – the first attempt failed. But giving up was not an option. Just one year later, in 2016, we founded Cosphatec Shanghai and started a successful collaboration with two distributors that continues to this day. These partnerships build on our close cooperation with distributors in Shanghai and Guangzhou, which began back in 2014. This milestone laid the foundation for our international success today.
EURO COSMETICS:
And your greatest successes so far?
Frank Brauns:
When I look back over the last 20 years, our greatest success is certainly that we have established ourselves as a reliable partner for natural cosmetic raw materials in the international industry. Our constantly growing and innovative product portfolio has enabled us to build a global customer network that relies on long-term partnerships. At the same time, we now have a broad network of suppliers and trading partners with whom we can fulfil almost any demand – competently, flexibly and with local contacts. Our customers particularly value our partnership-based relationship and the intensive support we offer for formulation projects. We listen, provide personalised advice and contribute our technical expertise – word has got around and is attracting the attention of more and more companies.
Another milestone was certainly the establishment of our two subsidiaries in France and China. This not only brings us closer to our customers, but also enables us to react more quickly and in a more targeted manner to market trends. This international foundation, coupled with our Hanseatic reliability and clear focus on sustainability, makes Cosphatec what it is today: an innovative company with a strong foundation and vision.
EURO COSMETICS:
What do you do to maintain your competitiveness?
Frank Brauns:
For us, staying competitive means one thing above all: being constantly on the move – professionally, strategically and in dialogue with our partners. Our strong, global network of long-standing suppliers, committed distributors and trusting customer relationships is a central pillar of this. It not only provides us with market feedback, but also gives us the flexibility to react quickly and in a targeted manner to changes.
Added to this is our broadly diversified, continuously developing portfolio of natural raw materials – from classic preservative alternatives to functional active ingredients for modern, sustainable formulations. We think in terms of solutions, not products.
But what perhaps distinguishes us most clearly from many of our competitors is our understanding of service. We are not just a supplier, but an active partner. Our team supports our customers closely – from the initial idea to the finished formulation. We listen, advise on an equal footing and stand behind every project with genuine commitment. This closeness and this support make the difference for many of our customers – and this is precisely where we see our strength for the future.
EURO COSMETICS:
What product portfolio do you offer?
Frank Brauns:
Our portfolio combines what modern natural cosmetics need: Skin-friendliness, effectiveness and 100 % naturalness. We are particularly proud of our Cosphaderm® Natural Multifunctionals – natural raw materials with a strong antimicrobial effect that ensure microbiological stability without being considered classic preservatives. Our range is complemented by antioxidants, emulsifiers, thickeners and active ingredients. All our products reliably support microbial and oxidative stability as well as the stability of emulsions and viscosity – for safe, high-performance and naturally formulated cosmetics.
EURO COSMETICS:
What can customers expect from you in terms of services and support?
Frank Brauns:
We see ourselves not only as a supplier of raw materials, but also as a true partner at eye level. Our experienced R&D team supports our customers from the initial idea to the market-ready formulation – with sound advice on raw material selection, regulatory requirements, certifications and market authorisation. Know-how is crucial, especially in the field of natural cosmetics – and this is precisely where we contribute our 20 years of expertise.
A good example of this is our range of preservative load tests, which we carry out specifically for our customers. We also provide support with necessary adjustments to the formulation – always with the aim of achieving a stable, effective and natural formulation. This close, practical collaboration makes the difference for many of our customers. Because they know: With Cosphatec, they not only have high-quality raw materials, but also a dedicated team at their side that understands and reliably supports them.
EURO COSMETICS:
What celebrations are planned this year?
Frank Brauns:
Our 20th anniversary is a very special moment for us – and of course we are celebrating it in style. On the day we were founded in February, we celebrated in a small circle with our core team in Hamburg – deliberately in person and internally. In addition, we are planning a festive event here in Hamburg in May, where we will look back on two decades of Cosphatec together with long-standing partners, customers and companions – and, above all, look forward. Because this milestone is not only a reason to celebrate, but also a great incentive for everything that lies ahead of us. At the same time we share insights from our office work and prepared gifts for our valued Customers and partners.
“Our goal is to expand our portfolio in a targeted manner in order to be able to offer our customers even more natural and high-performance solutions”.
EURO COSMETICS:
Your goal for the future is?
Frank Brauns:
on the coming years, we want one thing above all: to continue to grow – with a sense of proportion, attitude and a spirit of innovation. Our goal is to expand our portfolio in a targeted manner in order to be able to offer our customers even more natural and high-performance solutions. At the same time, we want to further strengthen our international presence and establish Cosphatec as a reliable partner for natural raw materials in even more countries. In doing so, we always focus on the added value for our customers – be it through innovative products, reliable service or partnership-based cooperation. With this, we are already on the right track.
EURO COSMETICS:
Thank you for speaking with us.
