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Increasing the sustainability of the homecare industry
Virginia Sanchez of Cepsa shares the keys of the Sustainable Laundry Revolution
In recent years , sustainability has become a critical concern in various industries and the homecare sector is no exception . As consumers become more environmentally conscious , the demand for ecofriendly cleaning products has risen .
An increasing portion of consumers feels an intrinsic responsibility to be more sustainable , as well as to be more actively involved , and they are more aware of their potential impact on the planet . These ‘ ecoactives ’ account for 22 % of total consumers , according to Kantar ’ s 2023 survey . 1 They are willing to choose a product over another if it is considered more sustainable and are even willing to pay more for it .
Meanwhile , 6 % of global direct and indirect CO 2 emissions are related to the chemical and petrochemicals sector , and household chemical formulations account for around 10 % of carbon emissions from the sector . 2 , 3 That is why achieving carbon neutrality has become a major concern for most companies of the homecare value chain and has driven them to establish goals in terms of carbon emissions for the mid and long term .
The industry is looking for decarbonisation and de-fossilisation solutions . And the major homecare category where efforts can be made is laundry products . That is why we call this sustainability trend the ‘ sustainable laundry revolution ’.
Strategies for sustainability
This is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive approach as there is no single solution and there are several uncertainties and
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unanswered questions . It requires the implementation of various strategies , from the sourcing of raw materials to the manufacturing processes , the packaging used , and finally , the use of the end product .
The first is to use environmentally friendly ingredients . One of the key strategies is transitioning from fossil fuel-based feedstocks to biobased chemicals from renewable resources such as palm oil , coconut oil and soybean oil , among others . These alternatives are often less harmful to the environment and have a lower carbon footprint .
Additionally , promoting the use of waste and reusable materials would increase circularity , going from a straightforward model to a circular economy approach , thus reducing the impact on the environment . However , these new raw materials are directly related to the main challenges of the industry ( cost , performance , availability ) and assessing the viability of the different options is crucial for its implementation .
Bio-based ingredient
Figure 1 – Global warming potential of fossil fuel & renewable alternatives
Bio-based ingredient ( sustainable renewable sourced )
The second is production optimisation , by encouraging the manufacture of detergents with lower carbon emissions during the production process , that is , by process efficiency and / or the use of renewable energy sources
Sustainable packaging is another important area where the detergent industry is making great progress . The use of recycled plastics , biodegradable materials and refillable containers helps to reduce the environmental impact of these products . Concentrated formulas have also gained popularity , as they require less packaging and reduce transportation emissions due to their smaller size
Finally , the use of detergents in a more sustainable way can have a positive impact . This refers to detergents that have been formulated to be used at lower washing temperature or at shorter washing cycles , saving energy and thus leading to a reduced impact to the environment
58 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981