Zhongke LanZhi: Pioneering Green Biomanufacturing to Revolutionize the Beauty & Health Industry with World-Leading Microalgal Glyceryl Glucoside

On August 30, the “Conference on Green Biomanufacturing and Innovative Development of the Beauty and Health Industry,” jointly hosted by the Phycology Branch of the Chinese Society for Oceanology and Limnology, the Rongcheng Municipal People’s Government, and the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, was held in Rongcheng City.

This conference was hosted by the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesXu FengPresided over by the Deputy Director, Director of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesLu Xuefeng, Deputy Mayor of Rongcheng CityLiu Quanliang, Director of the Glycoengineering Research Center at Shandong University and Academician of the Eurasian Academy of SciencesLing Peixue, Dean of the School of Chemical Engineering at Northwest University, and Co-founder of Xi'an Giant Biogene GroupFan Daidi, Research Fellow at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and President of the International Society for Applied PhycologyHu Qiang, Director of the Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chairman of the Microalgae Branch of the Chinese Phycological SocietyQin Song，Principal Investigator of Algal Biotechnology at the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chairperson of the Phycology Branch of the Chinese Society for Oceanology and LimnologyLiu Jianguo, Professor at Jinan UniversityZhang Chengwu, Chairman of the Shandong Daily Chemical Industry AssociationXu Guixin, Chairman and General Manager of Qingdao Zhongke Lanzhi Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd.Duan Yangkai, Deputy General Manager of Shandong Freda Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd.Jiang Liangyan, R&D Director of Zhongshan Zhongyan Cosmetics Co., Ltd.Yao Chunlei, Marketing and Brand Director of Guangzhou Yueyan Cosmetics Co., Ltd.Li Beiyang, Chief Scientific Officer of Zhejiang Yayan Biotechnology Co., Ltd.Chen Di, Chairman of Shanghai Zhengxin Biotechnology Co., Ltd.Xiong ZhongliAttend the meeting.

On the morning of August 31, Qingdao Zhongke Lanzhi Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd. held the “Completion and Commissioning Ceremony for the Weihai Industrialization Project of Advanced Bio-manufacturing of Natural Microalgal Glucosylglycerol and the Source-Tracking Tour.” Director of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesLv Xuefeng, Party Secretary of Lidao Town GovernmentChen XiaoningWaiting for leadership, Research Fellow at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesHu Qiang, Researcher at the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesLiu Jianguo, Professor at Jinan UniversityZhang ChengwuWaitAlgae Expert, Chairman and General Manager of Zhongke LanzhiDuan Yangkaiand the joint launch ceremony with all shareholder representatives.

Located in Lidao Town, eastern Rongcheng City—at the easternmost tip of Shandong Province and the Jiaodong Peninsula, surrounded by sea on three sides and facing Korea and Japan across the water—this site serves as a crucial maritime hub connecting China with Northeast Asia. As the first large-scale, standardized microalgae industrial base fully invested in and developed by Qingdao Zhongke Lanzhi Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd. (“Zhongke Lanzhi”), the project covers an area of approximately 150 mu, laying the foundation for the company’s rapid commercial scale-up. Moreover, Lidao Town’s exceptional maritime transportation advantages pave the way for Zhongke Lanzhi’s seamless expansion into international markets.

Microalgae are the oldest oxygenic photosynthetic organisms on Earth and exhibit the highest photosynthetic efficiency, which can be 10 to 50 times greater than that of terrestrial plants. Widely distributed across various global ecosystems, microalgae are estimated to fix approximately 90 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually, accounting for more than 40% of the global net photosynthetic carbon fixation. Microalgae also possess rich germplasm and metabolic diversity, being abundant in sugars, lipids, proteins, and a variety of biofunctional molecules. Furthermore, due to their small size and rapid growth, they are suitable for large-scale cultivation and can serve as chassis organisms for green biomanufacturing.

At the Conference on Green Bio-Manufacturing and Innovative Development of the Beauty and Health Industry, Lü Xuefeng, Director of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesSynthetic biology technology is hailed as the third biotechnology revolution, following the discovery of the “DNA double helix structure” and the completion of the “Human Genome Project.” Microalgae can directly and directionally convert carbon dioxide into biofuels and bio-based chemicals, reducing energy consumption and the use of organic carbon, while achieving carbon sequestration, emission reduction, and green production. As such, microalgae serve as ideal chassis organisms that meet the development needs of negative-carbon biomanufacturing technologies. Consequently, photosynthetic carbon fixation technology using microalgae has become a focal point in the fields of synthetic biology and green biomanufacturing.

Lü Xuefeng, Director of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Hu Qiang, Research Fellow at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and President of the International Society for Applied PhycologyIt is pointed out that microalgae can harness solar energy to fix carbon dioxide and convert it into a series of organic compounds. As cellular factories for synthesizing biomass, they offer numerous biological advantages, such as simpler structures compared to plant cells, greater genetic manipulability, and the ability to suppress metabolic pathways unrelated to production by adjusting synthetic routes. Furthermore, microalgae exhibit rapid growth rates and strong environmental adaptability. They can be cultivated in coastal tidal flats and saline-alkali lands without competing with agricultural crops for arable land, representing an economically viable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable biological carbon sequestration technology.

Hu Qiang, Researcher at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and President of the International Society for Applied Phycology

As a primary contributor to biomass, microalgae can provide photoautotrophic chassis cells for synthetic biology and serve as an excellent platform for fundamental research in scientific inquiry and “dual carbon”-oriented green biomanufacturing.

In recent years, Researcher Lü Xuefeng and his team at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have achieved breakthrough progress in the field of light-driven carbon fixation and synthesis using microalgae. They have successfully transcended the limitations of traditional collection, screening, and genetic modification, and innovatively proposed a novel biosynthetic strategy for microalgae termed “environmental stress activation of silent metabolic pathways,” andGuided by this, the innovative SCG technology was developed for the large-scale cultivation of Spirulina to prepare high-value-added functional products containing glucosylglycerol.P（Smart Cyano Glucosylglycerol Polygeneration Technology）。

At the scientific and technological achievement appraisal meeting on “Advanced Biomanufacturing of the High-Value Natural Microalgae-Derived Product, Glucosylglycerol,” organized by the China National Light Industry Council on the afternoon of August 30, the achievement successfully passed the appraisal conducted by Nanjing Normal University.Huang HeAcademician, Shandong UniversityLing PeixueProfessor, Northwestern UniversityFan DaidiProfessor, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesHu QiangResearcher, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesQin SongResearcher, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesLiu JianguoResearcher, Jinan UniversityZhang ChengwuProfessor, Vice Chairman of the China Bio-fermentation Industry AssociationFeng ZhiheFollowing rigorous evaluation by eight experts, the appraisal committee concluded that the project’s overall technology has reached an internationally leading level and recommended its further promotion and application.

During the conference, Qingdao Zhongke Lanzhi Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd. initiated the establishment of the “Industrial Alliance for Green Manufacturing and Innovative Applications of Microalgae Bioactive Products,” aiming to strengthen innovation in China’s microalgae industry. The alliance will bring together scientists, industry experts, and entrepreneurs to provide industrial consultancy, promote innovation support in biomanufacturing and the commercialization of technological achievements, and foster a favorable development environment. Meanwhile, it advocates for policy research and cross-sector collaboration to facilitate policy implementation and shared innovation, jointly driving the high-quality development of the biomanufacturing industry.

In recent years, Qingdao Zhongke Lanzhi Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd. has successfully achieved the commercialization of this technology, launching star products such as Annoine and Kelanine. By obtaining the EU COSMOS natural certification, it has become the world’s first purely natural glyceryl glucoside product, filling the gap in the international market for purely natural glyceryl glucoside products.

Guangzhou Yueyan Cosmetics Co., Ltd. (Brand Name: Haiyang Zhizun) Market BrandDirector Li BeiyangIn the presentation titled “Annoine Empowers Men’s Skincare with Cyanobacteria-Derived Innovation,” it was highlighted that Annoine can effectively inhibit inflammatory responses, alleviating symptoms such as skin redness, swelling, itching, and stinging. It promotes the repair of the skin barrier, enhances skin resilience, and reduces damage from external irritants. Furthermore, Annoine stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes, accelerating skin barrier restoration and skin cell regeneration, thereby expediting wound healing and minimizing scar formation. By playing a key role in maintaining cellular vitality, it helps men maintain healthy and comfortable skin under various environmental conditions.

Li Beiyang, Director of Marketing and Branding at Guangzhou Yueyan Cosmetics Co., Ltd.

Xu Guixin, Chairman of the Shandong Daily Chemical Industry AssociationIn the session titled “Green Empowerment: A New ‘Core’ Era of Tech-Driven Skincare,” it was highlighted that consumers are increasingly paying attention to product ingredients and technological sophistication. As the industry enters the 3.0 era of tech-driven skincare, consumers are not only concerned with basic product efficacy but also seek to understand the underlying scientific principles and the specific roles of individual ingredients. Brands need to validate their product efficacy through third-party data and scientific research backgrounds to meet consumers’ high expectations for tech-driven skincare. Furthermore, the development of tech-driven skincare has spurred the rise of personalized products and customized services, addressing consumer demand for tailored skincare solutions.

Xu Guixin, Chairman of the Shandong Daily Chemical Industry Association

Qingdao Zhongke Lanzhi’s advanced bio-manufacturing technology for microalgae-derived glucosylglycerol ensures product uniqueness and sophistication through high technical barriers, while demonstrating broad adaptability in downstream applications. Glucosylglycerol with its natural configuration, extracted via SCGP technology, precisely aligns with modern consumers’ pursuit of green, safe, and efficient products, thanks to its high purity, all-natural origin, high efficacy, and gentle, non-irritating properties.

itsCosmetics, Maternal and Infant Care, Pet Health, Medical Devices, and Professional Oral, Nasal, and Ocular Carehave been applied in multiple fields, not only achievingAnti-aging, Anti-inflammatory & Soothing, Deep Hydration, Hair Loss Prevention & Strengthening, Barrier RepairThese multifaceted benefits further demonstrate significant application potential and development value in more diversified fields such as food and pharmaceuticals, achieving “multi-purpose use and cross-industry integration,” thereby greatly expanding the application boundaries and market space for glucosylglycerol.

Leveraging its profound expertise in the field of glyceryl glucoside, Qingdao Zhongke Lanzhi Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd. has secured multiple industry “firsts”—It established China’s first enterprise standard for glyceryl glucoside, became the world’s first company to industrialize microalgae-based glyceryl glucoside production technology, and completed the first comprehensive safety assessment of its glyceryl glucoside product in China.

Zhongke Lanzhi started with microalgae and is positioned to achieve green biomanufacturing of bioactive molecules using synthetic biology technologies. The company possesses a complete R&D chain for microalgae-based carbon neutrality industrial technologies, including microalgal germplasm resource mining, functional omics analysis, synthetic biology techniques, deep processing, and large-scale cultivation processes.

Leveraging the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongke Lanzhi has established four major synthetic biology technology platforms, includingMicroalgae-driven carbon fixation biotechnology platform, filamentous fungus-based green bio-manufacturing platform, high-value natural product yeast synthetic bio-manufacturing platform, and environmentally friendly high-efficiency enzymatic catalysis technology platform,Currently, we have a pipeline of more than 20 innovative products under development.

It is worth mentioning that the company recently launchedCyanobacterial PeptidesandMicroalgae: A New Generation of Natural "Waterless Formula".The former utilizes large-scale microalgae preparation technology for cyanobacterial peptides. The resulting cyanobacterial peptide product, obtained through this large-scale microalgae process, contains 108 types of small-molecule polypeptides. Polypeptides constitute over 70% of the content, with di- to pentapeptides accounting for 50%. It demonstrates significant efficacy in skin barrier repair, including enhancing the skin barrier, strengthening the dermal matrix, and improving skin wrinkles, thickness, and density.The latter is primarily an anhydrous formulation filtrate that, in cosmetic applications, offers benefits such as improving skin condition, eliminating roughness and dryness of the stratum corneum, soothing the skin, restoring the skin barrier, and alleviating skin allergies.

According toDuan Yangkai, Chairman and General Manager of Qingdao Zhongke Lanzhi Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd.Introduction,Currently, the company is focusing on leveraging its existing algal strain resources to deeply explore innovative fields such as unsaturated fatty acids, and plans to actively lay out a new cosmetics raw materials market by relying on the advantages of algal strains, so as to further expand its business landscape. Meanwhile, 2024 is also the first year for Zhongke Lanzhi's overseas expansion, and the company is steadily advancing inJapan and South KoreaandEurope and the United Statesthe layout of overseas markets.

Duan Yangkai, Chairman and General Manager of Zhongke Lanzhi

From July 24 to 26, 2024, Qingdao Zhongke Lanzhi Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd. made its debut at In-Cosmetics Korea in Seoul, South Korea, earning unanimous recognition from senior experts of international brands such as Estée Lauder, LG, Cosmax, and Amorepacific.

In summary, Qingdao Zhongke Lanzhi Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd.’s microalgal glucosylglycerol project aligns with the major trends of industrializing biomanufacturing and promoting high-quality, green development in the health industry. This alignment is evidenced by authoritative assessments of its technological proficiency, demonstrations of scaled-up mass production, and innovative applications. By leveraging synthetic biology technologies to efficiently produce high-value bioactive molecules through natural microalgal cell factories, the project not only meets market demand for high-quality natural products but also provides new perspectives for the sustainable development of the industry.

In the future, as technology matures further and application scenarios continue to expand, Qingdao Zhongke Lanzhi Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd. is poised to play a more significant role in the beauty and health industry, driving the entire sector toward greater efficiency, environmental sustainability, and innovation. Meanwhile, the company’s strategic presence in international markets will help enhance the global competitiveness of China’s biomanufacturing industry, providing consumers worldwide with more high-quality natural health products.