Podcast 201: FRUU Cosmetics and the Sustainable Upcycling of “Wonky Fruits”

Our guest in this episode is Dr Terence Chung, visionary co-founder of FRUU Cosmetics, which is a company dedicated to turning sustainable ingredients, particularly “wonky fruits” or byproducts from the juicing and agricultural industries, into natural cosmetics.

In conversation with Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier, Terence not only shares the remarkable journey of FRUU, but also provides valuable insights into the company’s total commitment to sustainability.

In this episode, we unravel the complexities and triumphs of incorporating unconventional ingredients in cosmetics, and gain a deep understanding of the challenges that accompany this innovative approach. Join us for an insightful conversation that promises to unveil the hidden potential within these often underestimated ingredients, promising a paradigm shift in the way we perceive beauty and sustainability.

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Inspiring quote:

“Nature has a way of surprising us with beauty in unexpected places. At FRUU Cosmetics, we believe in unlocking the hidden potential of ‘wonky fruits,’ turning nature’s overlooked gems into a sustainable source of beauty and empowerment.” – Dr. Terence Chung, Co-founder of FRUU Cosmetics

In this episode with Dr Terence Chung, co-founder of FRUU, you will hear:

• An introduction to FRUU and its mission to transform wonky fruits into sustainable cosmetics.
• About the diverse range of products FRUU offers, from lip balms and hand creams to deodorants and fragrances.
• Terence Chung’s inspiration behind creating FRUU and the unique challenges faced in the cosmetics industry.
• The fascinating story behind sourcing wonky fruits and turning them into functional cosmetic ingredients.
• Insights into the potential of upcycling in the beauty industry and the role of functional ingredients derived from waste.
• Terence’s perspective on making upcycling the norm in the beauty industry and the need for a mindset shift:the reception to upcycled formulations among consumers and the delicate balance of marketing sustainability.
• FRUU’s future plans, including exploring new product lines and addressing challenges in the fragrance sector.

Key takeouts include:

• Sustainability through wonky fruits: FRUU focuses on turning byproducts, particularly wonky fruits, into natural cosmetics, creating a sustainable approach to ingredient sourcing.
• Product diversity: From lip balms to fragrances, FRUU has expanded its product range, emphasising the versatility of wonky fruit-derived ingredients.
• Innovation in upcycling: Terence discusses the potential for upcycling functional ingredients and the challenges associated with changing industry mindsets.
• Consumer mindset: While there is a growing interest in sustainable products, consumer priorities often prioritise price and brand recognition over environmental considerations.
• Future endeavours: FRUU is set to explore new product lines, with a focus on home fragrance and bath products, and is actively working on developing fragrances from wonky fruits.

Meet our guest: Dr Terence Chung

Dr Terence Chung, the co-founder of FRUU.., leads a pioneering London-based brand that transforms “wonky fruits” and agricultural by-products into eco-friendly beauty and toiletry products.

With a solid background in biochemistry and a passion for sustainability and innovative brand design, Terence, alongside co-founder Kelly, began crafting FRUU’s products in their modest spare room in 2017. Since its inception, every FRUU product has been meticulously designed, formulated, and produced in their dedicated London workshop. Recognised as a multi-award-winning brand, FRUU proudly graces the shelves of esteemed retailers such as John Lewis, Sephora, Boots Beauty Only Store (Battersea), Holland & Barrett Netherlands, and LOGON Hong Kong.

Recently, Terence’s visionary contributions to the industry have earned him a spot among the Top 25 in the ‘Who’s Who In Natural Beauty’, a testament to his impact and innovation in the field.

Find out more about FRUU and Terence:
FRUU website | Instagram: @fruu.cosmetics | Tiktok @FRUUcosmetics | Linkedin |

Terence is offering 15% off online on the FRUU.. website to Green Beauty Conversations listeners with code: FB15.

FRUU-LAB is offering free product development consultation with prior booking.

There’s a wealth of information in our old episodes and we encourage you to go back and listen to them. If you want to hear more about some of the topics we covered in this episode, please do delve back into the podcast archives. Go and listen to:

Episode 181: Marine magic from seaweed waste to cosmetic ingredients, in which Lorraine interviewed Geoff Chapin of Carbonwave, who is mentioned in this interview with Terence. Carbonwave has created a seaweed waste-derived emulsifier.
Episode 199: with Thomas Kerfoot of Inky Ingredients and O&3, who supplies upcycled ingredients to all sorts of beauty brands.
Episode 59: How upcycled waste built a global beauty brand – in which we spoke with Anna Brightman of Upcircle which processes their own waste ingredients in-house to create cosmetics.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on iTunes, Spotify or Youtube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.