Award-winning, high-performance skincare brand Katoa Botanicals is redefining responsible beauty through sustainable biochemistry and intentional design.
Recognised globally and with awards already under their belt, the brand develops advanced biotech formulations grounded in sustainable biochemistry, championing simplified routines for maximum results.
Each product is housed in innovative, home-compostable Vivomer® cosmetic packaging, exemplifying Katoa Botanicals planet-first approach by eliminating plastic from its production.
Read our interview with Penny, founder of Katoa, below.
Your packaging is a fascinating aspect of the brand. The tubs look like plastic but are actually biodegradable and compostable. Tell us more about this, and is this something other brands could be doing more of?
We were one of the early brands to use Vivomer packaging when it came to market. It looks and feels like plastic, but it’s made through a fermentation process, where microorganisms produce a material that mimics plastic.
The really exciting part is that it’s home compostable, it can break down in home compost or food waste environments rather than remaining as plastic waste for hundreds of years. I absolutely think more brands could be exploring materials like this; we wanted to show that sustainable packaging doesn’t have to mean compromising on aesthetics or functionality.
How has your background and connection to the natural world influenced the way you have built Katoa as a business?
We really studied the beauty industry and questioned some of its environmental impact and, at times, the ingredients we put on our skin. We kept asking ourselves, ‘What can we do differently?’
As a New Zealand Māori, we have a deep rooted connection to the natural world and to kaitiakitanga - our responsibility to care for and protect the land, sea, sky and environment. That principle is woven into the way we’ve built Katoa and the choices we make as a business.
To anyone new to Katoa, tell us your mission, your why and what you want the brand to be most known for?
Katoa, in my native Māori language, means 'all, complete, as one.' We set out to create a skincare brand that looked at the bigger picture, bringing skin health, people and the environment together as one complete system.
We focus on responsible ingredient sourcing, combining advanced biotechnology with powerful botanicals, while eliminating plastic from our packaging and choosing 100% biodegradable and compostable alternatives. Ultimately, I want Katoa to be known for proving that high-performance skincare and genuine sustainability can exist together, without compromise.
Your personal story, your brand's journey to now, is uniquely inspiring. What are your core values and life lessons from your upbringing that has lead you to launching Katoa?
Our core values are transparency, respect and responsibility - particularly for the botanicals we use in our formulations.
Growing up on a farm taught me to respect the land and the natural cycles of the seasons. Botanicals were part of everyday life and were valued for their medicinal and therapeutic properties. My mother was a naturopath and herbal medicine practitioner, so I grew up with a deep appreciation for plants and their connection to our wellbeing.
Those early lessons have stayed with me and are at the heart of Katoa today - combining the wisdom of nature with modern biotechnology, while always considering our responsibility to the planet.
You have spent around 30 years working in the beauty industry. What did you see during that time that made you feel the industry needed to change, and was there a particular moment when you thought, “I could do this differently”?
I’d seen first hand how much plastic and unnecessary packaging had become normalised. Globally, the beauty industry produces over 120 billion units of plastic packaging each year; when I created Katoa, being plastic free had to be non-negotiable.
We formulate without ingredients such as carbomers, polymers, acrylates and silicones, and ask at every stage: can we do this differently, without compromising on performance? For me, it’s about showing you can put purpose alongside performance and build beauty differently.
There is a lot of discussion around sustainability in beauty, but also a lot of greenwashing. What do you think consumers should focusing on most when buying beauty?
Sustainability has certainly become a bit of a buzzword, sadly not just in beauty. I think consumers should first consider what sustainability genuinely means to them, whether that’s reducing plastic, responsible sourcing, supporting communities or giving back to environmental organisations. Then look for brands that genuinely align with those values.
Most importantly, look beyond the claims. Transparency and being able to trace a brand’s claims back to real evidence is a big one. Consumers should feel confident asking questions and looking beyond the marketing to understand what a brand is actually doing.
If someone new to Katoa is reading this, which product would you recommend trying first and why? Do you have a hero product in your collection?
We launched with our Cleansing Enzyme Butter and Luminess Hydra Crème, followed by the Equilibrium Glow Oil. We believe in a less-is-more approach, with multifunctional products that work seamlessly into any routine.
I love them all, but if I had to choose one, I’d start with the Equilibrium Glow Oil. It’s incredibly versatile. Use it with a facial tool, add a couple of drops to your moisturiser, mix a drop into foundation for a dewy finish, or simply apply it on its own for soft, glowing skin.
What's next for Katoa? Do you plan to expand on your current range?
Over the last two years, we’ve been developing four new products, taking the time to perfect each one and ensure they align with our ethos and core values. From the ingredients we choose to how they’re sourced.
These products are designed to complement our existing range and bring together a complete day to night skincare system.
Katoa brings together nature with biotechnology and advanced science. What does that look like in your formulations?
We work with laboratories around the globe to source the latest science led, biotech ingredients. From patent plant cells developed in France to bioferments produced in Italy, many of these laboratories are pioneering more sustainable ways to create high performance ingredients.
For example, cultivating and multiplying plant cells in a laboratory can use up to 99% less water than traditional farming methods. It also allows for isolating and multiply the most active parts of a plant, creating potent, consistent performing ingredients, many of which have been clinically tested through in vitro.
For us, it’s about bringing together the intelligence of nature with the precision of biotechnology - creating effective skincare while reducing the environmental impact of how those ingredients are produced.
Katoa is described as a “truly circular” skincare brand. What does this mean to you in practical terms?
For us, being truly circular means looking at the whole lifecycle of a product, from where the ingredients come from to what happens to the packaging at the end of its life.
That means sourcing ingredients through a more sustainable approach, eliminating plastic from our packaging and choosing materials that can return safely to the environment with minimal to no buildup. We're continuously looking at how we can reduce waste and keep resources in use for as long as possible.
We’re not claiming to be perfect, but circularity is about considering the whole system and continually finding better ways to close the loop.
As a make-up artist, what did seeing the beauty industry from that perspective teach you about waste, consumption and the way we think about beauty? And if Katoa could change just one thing about the way we think about beauty, what would you want that change to be?
Working as a make-up artist for 30 years has given me a real insight into how much consumption and waste there can be within the beauty industry. We’re surrounded by new launches, endless products and the idea that we always need something new to look our best.
If Katoa could change one thing, it would be to move away from the idea that more is better. I believe beauty should be about choosing fewer, better products that genuinely work, and being more conscious of what we’re buying, where it comes from and what happens to it afterwards.
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Grounded in transparency and purpose, Katoa Botanicals proudly launched as B Corp Pending, Leaping Bunny Approved, a 1% for the Planet member, and an Ecologi partner - seamlessly merging luxury skincare with environmental integrity. We’re delighted to be one of the few UK stockists.
Visit The Remedy at Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, to browse and try Katoa. We'd love to introduce you to this wonderful brand that shares our values and passion for conscious living, people and our planet.