The personal care industry is navigating a critical phase as consumers urgently demand solutions to environmental crises like climate change, deforestation, and aquatic toxicity. These eco-conscious individuals are actively seeking out products that reflect their values—those made from alternative, renewable feedstocks, and featuring vegan, natural, and ethical credentials.

In response, brands are increasingly investing in biotechnology, with ingredients that are vegan, natural, and derived from fermentation leading the change. These advancements offer a lower environmental impact and herald a new wave of product innovation. This shift is about more than market demand - it signifies an immediate need to forge a future where personal care is directly linked with environmental and ethical practices. Glycolipids fit perfectly into this emerging trend, offering a sustainable and ethically sound choice that aligns with the sustainability and green chemistry principles.

Evonik has officially inaugurated its new glycolipid biosurfactants production unit in Slovakia, a state-of-the-art facility representing a significant triple-digit million-euro investment. This rhamnolipid biosurfactants production unit is the first worldwide to manufacture industrial-scale quantities of glycolipids, exceptionally high-quality, sustainable products that are already transforming the cleaning, beauty, and personal care industries with their potential for numerous other applications. Complementing this, Evonik remains committed to producing the highest standard of glycolipids from responsibly sourced ingredients. Our continuous improvement efforts aim to perfect our environmental footprint, providing personal cleansing products enhanced with beneficial properties and offering our brand partners unique, differentiating value.

Glycolipids are highly valued in personal care formulations for their dual benefit of being gentle on the skin and environmentally friendly. Their natural, biodegradable nature aligns with eco-conscious branding while offering effective cleansing without harsh effects, making them an ideal choice for consumers looking for sustainable and mild products.

Bio-based surfactants refer to surfactants that are based on renewable raw material feedstocks. Although the term “biosurfactants” is often used as a synonym for bio-based surfactants, it is actually a type of bio-based surfactant.

Sophorolipids were the first microbiological biosurfactants to enter the beauty and personal care market. These biosurfactants are produced by yeasts and occur naturally in materials such as some types of honey. A select number of yeasts such as candida bombicola can be used industrially to produce sophorolipids through raw materials such as sugar and rapeseed oil. Rhamnolipids are another type of glycolipid surfactant that Evonik produces. These glycolipids are naturally produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in oily media. Rhamnolipids have strong foaming properties and are very mild on the skin and the environment. They are also suitable for use in oral care products like toothpaste and mouthwash, as well as baby care products.