Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, "Marubeni") has agreed to form a capital alliance with SHIGETA Corporation (hereinafter, "SHIGETA"), which develops the French clean beauty brand, "SHIGETA PARIS", and to jointly promote their business in Japan and Asia. Clean beauty products are generally defined as natural products that do not use chemical ingredients (e.g. certified organic cosmetics) and meet the requirements of sustainability and ethical sourcing (e.g. no animal testing and healthy working environment).

"SHIGETA PARIS" was founded by therapist CHICO SHIGETA in Paris, France in 2006. SHIGETA conducts R&D, manufacturing, and packaging at its own manufacturing plant in Paris, which has acquired COSMOS certification (*), which has the most rigorous standards of all organic cosmetic certifications and is an important requirement in the clean beauty market. In particular, SHIGETA's R&D efforts, such as joint formulation development with the French National Center for Science and Technology, have earned the company a high reputation among consumers.

According to market research firm Statista, the global clean beauty market is expected to grow from $11 billion in 2016 to $54.5 billion by 2027. in particular, the industry is growing in Europe and the United States, especially among Millennials and Generation Z, who are highly concerned about sustainability. In Asia, which accounts for approximately 40% of the global cosmetics market, the concept is still in its infancy, but is expected to grow significantly in the future due to rising income levels and consumer awareness of sustainability.

This capital alliance with SHIGETA will be the first step in Marubeni's expansion into the clean beauty and wellness field, as Marubeni aims to create a consumer business that is supported by the next generation of consumers, such as Millennials and Generation Z, in Japan and Asia. Together, Marubeni and SHIGETA will aim to improve SHIGETA's brand recognition, sales support, and corporate value in the Japanese and Asian markets.

(*)COSMOS certification (COSMetic Organic Standard)
One of the most widespread standards for organic cosmetics certification in Europe, it was established to unify the certification rules that had been set independently by organic cosmetics certification organizations in European countries. It is one of the strictest standards for organic cosmetics certification in the world, and aims to enable sustainable development in the cosmetics field, and promote environmental protection, production of raw materials using natural and organic ingredients, and distribution of finished products.

＜About SHIGETA＞
Company Name	:	SHIGETA Co., Ltd.
Headquarter	:	Moto-akasaka, Tokyo
Established	:	2012
Representative	:	Emmanuel Olivier, Chief Executive Officer
Main Business	:	Manufacture and sale of cosmetics
Website	:	https://shigetajapan.com/