On a mission to reinvent natural astaxanthin, the strongest natural antioxidant

Main image: Checking the evolution of microalgae in a reactor.

Astaxanthin is nature's most powerful antioxidant. Produced by the freshwater microalga Haematococcus pluvialis as a survival response to stress, this carotenoid neutralises singlet oxygen and protects cells from oxidative damage at a level that surpasses vitamin E (550×), vitamin C (6,000×), and beta-carotene. It is why flamingos are pink, why salmon survive their upstream migration, and increasingly, why consumers reach for it for skin health, eye protection, and recovery. 

The science is compelling. The market is worth $3 billion and growing at 16% CAGR through 2030. But Jonas De Cooman, co-founder & CEO, believed a molecule this extraordinary deserved a production process to match.

The core advantage of axabio’s production is density.  

axabio's patented fourth-generation flat-panel photobioreactors cultivate Haematococcus pluvialis in a fully enclosed, AI-optimised environment at concentrations far above conventional systems. More product per litre of water means dramatically less water per kilogram of output. The closed system prevents evaporation, and continuous production eliminates the constant draining and refilling of traditional batch cultivation. 

The result: 60 to 70 times less water than open-pond production & greater energy efficiency than comparable indoor facilities, and a zero-chemical-solvent extraction using supercritical CO₂ , leaving no residue.  

The entire facility runs on renewable energy and operates under FSSC 22000 certification.

In early 2026, axabio became the first natural astaxanthin producer in the world to achieve B Corp certification, with a B Impact Score of 108.5, well above the 80-point threshold.

B Lab awarded axabio its highest marks in the environmental category, which requires producers to demonstrate at least 20% improvement over industry benchmarks.

axabio exceeded that threshold on both water and energy.

"Being sustainable and becoming B Corp should be the norm, not the exception," says De Cooman. "We wanted to set that standard for our industry. We hope more will follow."

What started as a conviction about production has grown into a full-service ingredient partner. From oleoresin and cold-water-dispersible powder to ready-to-market softgels and gummies, axabio supports brands from formulation to shelf, with the scientific documentation, regulatory compliance, and traceability to back every claim. 

Our astaxanthin is inspired by nature, powered by technology.