New Series of ECO Surfactants

ECO Surfactants New Series Sustainability is embedded in our DNA and is an integral part of everything we do. We believe in taking responsibility from the raw materials we source and how we use them, to the components we create. In this context, we are pleased to introduce our new ECO series comprising 100% bio-based surfactants. Our ECO series, created using bio-based ethylene oxide (EO) produced from biomass ethanol, contains more than 50 products. The combination of high levels of renewable energy used in our production facility with the use of bio-based EO results in a significant reduction in carbon footprint for our ECO product range. Formulators now have access to 100% renewable surfactants without compromising on performance, and can thus meet increasingly demanding sustainability targets.

Making Ethylene Oxide Sustainable

With growing consumer demand for renewable and sustainable products, we are pleased to introduce our new ECO product series comprising 100% bio-based surfactants. In recent years, "greener" non-ethoxylated components have been pursued in the search for more renewable formulations, but when traditional ethoxylates were used, results did not reach desired performance levels. With significant investment in our Atlas Point production facility located in Delaware, USA, our factory producing bio-based EO from bio-ethanol is the first of its kind. This development enables the production of sustainable and bio-based ethoxylates (Figure 1).

Multi-Layered Renewable Benefits of the ECO Series

The ECO series provides multi-layered renewable benefits and value for our customers. Formulators can replace both petrochemical-based nonionic analogs and less effective "natural" market alternatives while experiencing "zero compromise" on performance.

Improved Bio-Based Content

When produced using our bio-based EO, which is chemically equivalent to petrochemical-based ethoxylates (Table 1), it demonstrates improvement in bio-based content in core surfactant chemistry.

Certified Bio-Based Content

Our new ECO series helps formula manufacturers meet their renewable targets. Table 2 lists the biologically preferred bio-based content requirement for a finished formulation under a product category. Replacement of petrochemical-based surfactants with ECO series products will improve the bio-based content of the formulation. All ECO products are registered with the USDA BioPreferred Program.

Carbon Footprint of the ECO Series

We used SimaPro software to model life cycle analysis (LCA) for our ECO product families and focused on the climate change impact category following ISO 14067 technical specifications. With high levels of renewable energy available at Atlas Point, and when this energy is used together with bio-based EO, compared to conventional ethoxylates made using petrochemical-based EO without renewable energy, a typical ECO product results in a significant reduction in carbon footprint (Figure 4).   Melis Köklü Türkdoğan Sales Manager - Personal Care and Home Care Croda Turkey