Solazyme and Unilever collaborate on renewable algal oils

Renewable oil and bioproducts company Solazyme Inc has signed an R&D agreement with Unilever to develop oil derived from algae for use in soaps and other personal care products.

The two companies have been collaborating for the last year and Unilever has successfully tested Solazyme’s renewable algal oils in its products. The companies say they are working to demonstrate a process to incorporate targeted algal oils into personal care products at a commercially relevant scale. This will further develop Solazyme’s technology platform, which allows algae to produce oil and biomaterials in the standard fermentation facilities quickly, efficiently and on a large scale. Exploring next generation sources of renewable oil for use in its products is among the sustainability currently being undertaken by Unilever.

“Algal oil provides important benefits in personal care applications,” says Jonathan Wolfson, ceo of Solazyme. “Solazyme’s algal oils can help meet the growing demand for completely renewable, natural and sustainable personal care products.”

Peter Gallagher, vp of global skin r&d for Unilever adds: “Unilever is committed to the highest sustainability and environmental practices and is working to drive industry change and set new standards. Exploring sources of alternative natural oils is one of the most important aspects of our greater sustainable sourcing strategy and working with Solazyme’s algal oils is an excellent fit.”