OPTIBIOCAT is a four-year project funded by the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) under grant agreement no. 613868. The aim of the OPTIBIOCAT project is to replace chemical processes currently used for the production of cosmetics with cost-effective, energy-efficient and eco-friendly bioconversions. By developing biocatalysts for the cosmetics industry, OPTIBIOCAT will contribute to the aim of moving industrial activities towards more sustainable, eco-friendly and cost-effective technologies. The OPTIBIOCAT biocatalysts are novel enzymes based on the enzymes feruyl esterases (FAEs) and glucuronoyl esterase (GEs) which will allow catalysis of new reactions and more efficient biotransformations. OPTIBIOCAT brings together a broad international, interdisciplinary team, with partners from universities, research centres and industry. The collaborative project builds upon a highly interdisciplinary consortium of 16 partners from eight European countries. World-leading experts from Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland are taking part in the OPTIBIOCAT project.