Coinciding with Earth Day, dedicated to global environmental issues, Croda International Plc, manufacturer of specialty chemicals and high-performance technologies, has celebrated a major milestone in its ECO project - a 156 million euro ($170 million) investment in sustainable production, reducing dependence on fossil resources and the carbon footprint of its new 100% range of biobased surfactants. The project involves the final installation of the outdoor infrastructure.
Finding an alternative to a key petrochemical source will have a positive environmental impact and help improve the environmental profile of everyday products, from face creams to toothpastes, paints and cleaners. Greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by using ECO 100% surfactants of biobased origin compared to their petrochemical equivalents. Croda's biobased ethylene oxide plant will be flexible and will accept bioethanol from various renewable sources.
"Our customers are looking for products that will enable them to increase their proportion of renewable materials and reduce their environmental impact. They want sustainable, biobased raw materials to replace petrochemical derivatives, as people become increasingly aware of the carbon footprint of products. With our new ECO 100% range of biobased surfactants, we're giving our customers a surfactant that performs like petrochemical-based surfactants, but with a significant sustainable advantage, since they're 100% sustainable, 100% biobased, and made with renewable energy". says Rick Hanson, Director of Performance Products.
This milestone is not only important in the production of the new ECO 100% range of biobased surfactants, but also demonstrates Croda's long-term commitment to sustainable development and the realization of innovations. With changing consumer expectations for more renewable products and the drive to improve sustainability, manufacturers of everyday products are struggling to create products that meet these imperatives. Croda International Plc is taking the lead in developing solutions that meet consumer expectations.
"Croda has been manufacturing its key ingredients at the Atlas Point site since 1941 so the ECO project, the first of its kind in North America, is a historic step forward for Croda. We are excited to create the next generation of these ingredients by revolutionizing product technology, known as the most efficient and effective in the industry, to meet today's sustainability demands." according to Craig Aiken, Personal Care Sales Manager.
Croda's new ECO 100% range of biobased surfactants will be used in a wide range of applications, including lubricants; foam seats and paints in the automotive industry; surface cleaners and deodorants in detergents; drilling fluids in the oil industry; and cosmetics and hair care. Launched in 2015, this investment equips the Atlas Point site with a plant capable of producing ethylene oxide from bioethanol, and thus manufacturing bio-based 100% ethylene oxide derivatives. Completion of this project is scheduled for Q4 2017.
