BIOBASED CHEMICALS
Challenges in achieving sustainability
Despite the progress , there are some challenges ahead for sustainable detergents . Firstly the cost of sustainable raw materials and production processes can lead to higher prices for the final consumer , which is an obstacle for broader acceptance . In fact , products with certain sustainability attributes tend to carry a premium price tag .
Sustainable detergents should also be clean . It seems so obvious to say this , but that is not always the case . Sustainable detergents should meet the cleaning performance that consumers expect from traditional products .
Finding sustainable ingredients to meet demand without comprising performance is a big challenge and consumers are aware of this . That is why they might consider the sustainability claim to be a signal of lower quality that heightens their uncertainty about the functionality of a new product .
There are no standard methodologies to quantify the benefits of the product in terms of sustainability . Product life cycle assessment ( LCA ) can help evaluate the environmental impact from production to disposal , biodegradation and the end of product life . However , the current regulation on this is very flexible and can be interpreted in different ways , leading to a lack of a standard methodology to apply .
Sustainability should be real . Research by the European Commission and national consumer authorities into companies ’ green claims on their websites show that in 42 % of cases the claims were “ exaggerated , false or deceptive ”. 4 ‘ Greenwashing ’ arises when companies make misleading claims of conduct on sustainability to appear more environmentally friendly or more ecological .
Additionally , there is a preconception that any ingredient coming from ‘ natural ’ sources is more environmentally friendly than any coming from ‘ artificial ’ fossil feedstocks . As mentioned before , sustainability needs to be quantified .
Plant-based solutions can have different origins and a guarantee of sustainability along the value chain is key ( cultivation , treatment , etc .). A bio-based ingredient could even have a higher carbon footprint than its fossil counterpart if the renewable feedstocks used for its production have not been treated and sourced in a sustainable way .
Cepsa Química addressed all these challenges faced by the industry . This is how NextLab , the first sustainable linear alkylbenzene ( LAB ) was born . The range comprises three main types of products , each one of them with its own identity and objective .
MAR / APR 2024 SPECCHEMONLINE . COM
59