This alternative active ingredient is derived from a plant component known as lignin, which is found abundantly in nature via woody plants. Lignin imparts many of the desirable properties of active ingredients to plants – i.e. it is a protective layer against environmental stressors such as UV, microbes, fungi and oxidation. This technology harnesses these beneficial properties of lignin by converting it from a raw plant material into very small particles – so-called “Colloidal Lignin”. When lignin is converted to this very small form, it maximizes its functionality and enables it to be used in almost arbitrary formulations, very much alike standard active ingredients derived from fossil fuels. Colloidal lignin is completely biodegradable and, furthermore, the production process to convert lignin into the colloidal particles does not require harsh chemicals, resulting in an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient manufacturing procedure. Other plant-based active ingredients do exist, but they are limited in their performance and, furthermore, are difficult to produce in large volumes and at acceptable prices. In contrast, colloidal lignin has been demonstrated to work effectively as a replacement for synthetic active ingredients (e.g. UV booster, antioxidant, antimicrobial and emulsifier) in several applications (e.g. cosmetics, wood varnishes and coatings). Lignin is found in almost any plant source, and therefore can be isolated in sufficient quantities. It can even be extracted from biomass waste, opening the possibility for a circular economy model in the long-term. In summary, colloidal lignin is an effective natural replacement for synthetic active ingredients, that would result in more eco-friendly, sustainable, and non-toxic everyday products.