A new startup is offering eco-friendly alternatives to petrochemical- and palm-derived surfactants, based on the same technology used to make beer.
Locus Performance Ingredients (Locus PI), a new operating company under Locus Fermentation Solutions (Locus FS), develops nature-derived, high-performance biosurfactant ingredients using a unique microbrewery production method.
The biodegradable and GMO-free ingredients are said to offer at least a 37% lower carbon footprint and between 5-25 times better performance in formulations, resulting in much lower dosage rates.
“Our biosurfactants are palm-free, ethylene oxide-free, non-toxic and have no 1,4-dioxane, making them some of the purest and safest ingredient options available,” said Tim Staub, CEO of Locus PI.
Locus PI uses Locus FS' proprietary bioinformatics and fermentation technology to create its biosurfactant ingredients: an approach with low production costs and usage rates, according to the company.
It has already been used to develop environmentally friendly solutions in industries including agriculture, oil & gas and animal nutrition.
Surfactants are widely used across the cosmetics and personal care industry, providing foaming and cleaning activity in shampoos, shower gels, bath additives etc, as well as emulsification in creams and lotions, and dispersion of colour pigments in make-up, among a host of other functions.
