upcycling Shrimp Shells into Sustainable Skincare
sustainability
Our chitosan comes from wild Atlantic Northern Shrimp, fished in the clean, cold Icelandic waters. These fisheries are managed under one of the world’s strictest quota systems, with limits based on scientific advice and rules that prevent discarding. This ensures shrimp stocks remain healthy and resources are fully used.
Biobased & biodegradable
Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin, the second-most abundant polymer found in nature after cellulose, and breaks down naturally.
Up-cycled Arctic marine by-products
We use shrimp shells that already exist within Iceland’s managed catch and avoid dedicating new resources or land, adding value to local seafood supply chains.
Produced using renewable energy
Iceland’s electricity comes almost entirely from renewable hydropower and geothermal sources, so our manufacturing has a very low carbon footprint from start to finish.
Traceable & quality-controlled
Primex maintains fully traceable Icelandic marine biotech sourcing, with lot-level traceability “from raw to retail,” supported by HACCP-based controls.
recyclable packaging
Our packaging is made from fully recyclable materials and thoughtfully designed to minimise environmental impact while preserving product integrity.
A circular supply chain—end to end
Up-cycling and processing
Our chitosan begins with wild Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) harvested in the North Atlantic. When shrimp are processed for food, the shells—heads, tails, and exoskeletons—are left over. Instead of going to waste, these side-streams are collected and taken to Primex Iceland’s factory in Siglufjörður.
There, they undergo multiple stages of cleansing and drying. Chitin is then extracted from the exterior shells and refined into high-purity chitosan. This turns a seafood side-stream into a high-purity cosmetic ingredient and directly supports a circular economy—maximizing resource use from each catch.
Manufactured with Iceland’s green energy
low-impact manufacturing
Iceland’s grid is almost 100% renewable, primarily from hydropower and geothermal energy. Primex’s location in North Iceland means our manufacturing benefits from this low-carbon electricity profile. Primex chitosan production uses renewable energy, reinforcing the low-impact footprint from raw material through conversion.
Thanks to chitosan's biobased origin, biodegradability, up-cycled feedstock, and Iceland’s renewable-power manufacturing, we can turn Iceland’s seafood side-streams into high-value, low-impact skincare while respecting the resources that power our processes.
biocompatible, biodegradable
Blue biotech, green beauty
We formulate our Icelandic chitosan into skincare, where the polymer’s film-forming and moisture-retaining properties protect the skin barrier.
Because chitosan is biocompatible and biodegradable, it does not persist in the environment like some synthetic ingredients and polymers, helping reduce micro-pollutant persistence and aligning safety on skin with environmental responsibility.
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