SURFACTANTS
surfactants deliver the same or better results in critical cleaning environments, society will be unable to make the shift toward more climate-aligned solutions at scale.
By embedding CO 2 within ethoxylated structures, Recreaire introduces a new degree of flexibility for formulators. The amount of CO 2 can be varied to adjust the surfactant properties in a formulation, such as solubility, viscosity, cloud point, foaming behaviour, dispersity, etc. A skilled formulator can use them to deliver superior wetting efficiency, better cleaning, more stable foams and enhanced emulsion stability.
Flexibility for manufacturers
The process can use CO 2 from a variety of concentrated sources, including from carbon capture and utilisation( CCU) as well as lime production, ethanol fermentation and other industrial processes.
Today, fossil-derived epoxides are common co-reactants, but Econic’ s catalyst is equally compatible with bio-epoxides, bio-alcohols and recycled intermediates. As these supply chains mature, the same technology could produce surfactants from 100 % renewable inputs.
For manufacturers, this flexibility means reduced exposure to volatility in petrochemical or natural oil markets. It also provides a clear pathway to higher renewable content as new feedstocks scale.
Advancing climate solutions
The environmental case for carbonate ethoxylates is compelling. Life cycle assessment( LCA) shows that incorporating CO 2 into surfactant manufacture can reduce GHG emissions by up to 65 % compared with conventional ethoxylates.
Policy and market signals reinforce this trajectory. According to CO 2 Value Europe, the EU could capture at least 320 million tonnes / year of
CO 2 by 2050, with more than half converted into useful products such as fuels, chemicals and materials.
Meanwhile, CCU is becoming embedded in legislation. The Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act recognizes CCU as a net-zero enabling technology, while the EU Chemicals Action Plan highlights the role of captured carbon, regardless of source, in achieving climate targets.
In our view, carbon capture is not optional for hard-to-abate sectors like the chemical industry. By embedding waste CO 2 into products like surfactants, we can reduce emissions while displacing fossil and oleochemical carbon.
Avoiding land use constraints
The impacts of land use and land use change also have significant implications on the surfactants industry. Heavy reliance on agricultural feedstocks, such as palm oil, exposes manufacturers to challenges including greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, deforestation and soil degradation. It also creates vulnerabilities in supply chains, where crop yields and availability are increasingly influenced by climate variability and extreme weather events.
While sustainably certified biomass is growing, it still represents only a small share of total production, and certification systems face traceability challenges. This creates longterm uncertainty for formulators and brand owners seeking both resilience and reliability.
Figure 2 – Comparison of surfactants
Traditional surfactants: fossil + olea feedstocks
Conventional process for surfactants with oil and / or oleo-based feedstocks
Econic ' s renewable carbon surfactants
Anld source of CO 2 can become a feedstock, replacing part of fossil and all of oleo carbon sources
Econic ' s renewable carbon + bio + rec(d cled products
Bio-epoxides & bio-alcohols with other rec(d cled feedstocks in combination with CO 2 can result in 100 % renewable surfactants
Fossil or oleo material @ Carbon dioxide(I Bio-based material {) Recycled material
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NOV / DEC 2025 SPECCHEMONLINE. COM
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