Gattefossé Achieves Key Milestone With New US Plant Certifications

Gattefossé, a leading provider of specialty ingredients and formulation solutions for personal care and pharmaceutical industries, proudly announces the successful certification of its new manufacturing plant in Lufkin, Texas.

The facility, operational since July 2024 with the first ingredients coming off its production lines, has now achieved three certifications: ISO9001, EFfCI GMP, and EXCiPACT. This marks a significant step forward in the company’s global expansion strategy and commitment to quality, sustainability at the service of all customers worldwide.

A strategic step in Gattefossé’s global expansion

As part of its commitment to better serve its customers worldwide, Gattefossé invested in the construction of its third manufacturing facility, strategically located in Lufkin, Texas. Complementing existing sites in Saint-Priest, France, and Singapore, this plant underscores the Group’s ambition to transition from a mid-sized company to a truly international player.

 “The Lufkin facility embodies our commitment to better serving our  customers, especially in North America, while reinforcing our business continuity plan. This site will enable us to provide faster delivery times, increased production flexibility, and a robust backup solution across three continents”.

Kent SKIDMORE, Site Director of Lufkin, Texas plant.

Achieving world-class quality standards

The three certifications obtained by the Lufkin plant validate Gattefossé’s determination to delivering high-quality, safe, and effective ingredients.

• ISO9001: a globally recognized quality management standard, designed to optimize organizational performance, meet customer expectations, and demonstrate a commitment to quality.
• EFfCI GMP: compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices for cosmetic raw materials, guaranteeiring product quality and safety.
• EXCiPACT: a benchmark for Good Manufacturing Practices standards for pharmaceutical excipients, in pharmaceutical-grade ingredient production.

“Achieving ISO9001, EFfCI GMP, and EXCiPACT certifications for our new Lufkin plant is a testament to the great collaboration between our teams in France and Texas. By sharing expertise and aligning our quality processes, we’ve built a site that meets the same high standards as our other facilities worldwide. These certifications reflect our commitment to excellence, ensuring our customers receive safe, high-quality ingredients with uncompromising reliability”.

Elisa ROPAGNOL, Industrial Operations Director, Gattefossé Group.

Innovation and sustainability at the core

The Lufkin plant specializes in producing lipid-based ingredients for the personal care and pharmaceutical industries. In personal care, these functional ingredients act as emulsifiers, emollients, and texturizing agents, enabling high-end formulations renowned for their sensory benefits. In pharmaceuticals, lipid excipients play a crucial role in drug formulation for both human and veterinary health. They enhance skin penetration, optimize bioavailability, and improve taste masking, ensuring better treatment acceptability.

The facility uses gravity-fed flows, to  reduce energy consumption and minimize environmental impact. This approach supports the company’s broader sustainability goals, including reducing its carbon footprint by sourcing locally, benefiting from short supply chains.

“Our new plant not only strengthens our ability to meet customer needs worldwide with enhanced production capacity and supply chain resilience, but also reflects our deep commitment to innovation and sustainability. Built according to LEED* standards, this site sets a benchmark for reducing environmental impact and optimizing energy efficiency, paving the way for a responsible future” adds Elisa ROPAGNOL.

*LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

A local industrial and economic player

Located in Lufkin, a dynamic North American industrial hub, this new 62,000 square feet (5,800 m²) facility is similar in size to the production site of Gattefossé’s headquarters in France. It aims to achieve an equivalent production capacity in a few short years.

The Lufkin facility is about to manufacture a wide range of ingredients in liquid and solid forms, ensuring flexibility and adaptability to market demands. Beyond its industrial role, it has already created 15 local jobs and will reach 30 at full capacity in the production and quality control sectors.

By prioritizing regional production, Gattefossé not only strengthens ties to the North American market but also contribute to local economic development.  This initiative reinforces the company’s philosophy of combining global expertise with local action.