Case study: Innospec

Innospec is a global specialty chemicals company focused on bringing innovative new technologies to market. Their customers include a range of large multinational companies in the cosmetics, personal care, fuels and refineries sectors.

Innospec have worked with XCellR8 since 2014, during which time we have conducted dozens of skin and eye irritation tests for cosmetic ingredients that have helped Innospec meet their regulatory obligations under REACH, CLP and others.

A combination of European legislation, scientific advances and consumer demand for safer products has moved the cosmetics industry into the mainstream adoption of in vitro methods. As an exclusively animal-free laboratory, we enjoy working with companies like Innospec who clearly prioritise quality animal-free testing as core to their regulatory processes and who see in vitro as the future.

In fact, the increased accuracy of our skin corrosion test has allowed Innospec to remove corrosive labelling from some products whilst continuing to demonstrate their safety. This has saved thousands of pounds in shipping and transportation costs, and helped to provide safer products for some clients who prefer not to handle corrosive substances.

Head of Global Regulatory Compliance, Ian Callan, describes his experience of working with XCellR8. “I choose to work with XCellR8 because I receive a great, personal service. I like that I receive a draft report at the end of a study which I can then discuss directly with the Study Director, often within 24 hours, and we can debate an interpretation or clarify wording. I never feel like I’ve disappeared into a customer service black hole – the service is high speed and high quality.”