Croda International Plc yesterday celebrated the upcoming commissioning of its latest investment at its Atlas Point manufacturing site in New Castle, Del., U.S.A. The first of its type in the United States, the new plant is capable of producing 100% renewable, 100% bio-based non-ionic surfactants, which are active emulsifying agents used in a wide range of consumer products.

Croda International Plc Group Chief Executive Steve Foots and President of Personal Care and North America Sandra Breene, were joined by Delaware Governor John Carney and other local leaders for a ribbon cutting celebration at the manufacturing facility.

In the 1940s, Croda set an industry standard by bringing the iconic Tween(TM) non-ionic surfactants to the market to meet customer needs for effective emulsification, a way of keeping oil and water together in formulations. Croda said its latest investment will once again revolutionise the industry, by enabling Croda to use bio-ethanol derived from natural feedstocks to manufacture its 100% renewable surfactants, significantly increasing the bio-based content of ethoxylated products and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

This marks a turning point in the industry, as companies traditionally use petrochemical ingredients over sustainable ones when seeking high performance non-ionic surfactants for the formulation of consumer products. Croda has implemented a way to use renewable ingredients without sacrificing product performance, the company said. Moreover, the ingredients will be manufactured with renewable energy.

This new range of 100% renewable, 100% bio-based ingredients, to be sold under an ECO brand prefix, will enable the creation of both new and re-imagined products, including: cosmetics and hair care products in the personal care industry; lubricants and coatings in the automotive industry; air- and floor-care products in the cleaning industry; as well as drilling fluids in the oil industry.

“Thanks to this investment, we will now offer our customers a strong alternative in terms of renewability and performance to replace petrochemical-based ingredients in their formulations without compromising performance. This will help our customers reach their own sustainability goals and serve the needs of their customers,” said Foots.