Locus Fermentation Solutions (Locus FS) is expanding its green technology into the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) market with the launch of a new operating company that will replace toxic and palm-based chemicals and maximise product sustainability.
Branded as Locus Performance Ingredients (Locus PI), the startup develops nature-derived, high-performance biosurfactant ingredients proven to outperform petrochemical surfactants and solve top challenges in personal care, home care and industrial formulations.
CPGs are facing product formulation challenges: tightening government regulations and increasing ingredient disclosure requirements, performance issues, and consumer concerns over deforestation, climate change and toxicity. While demand is increasing for more sustainable ingredient options, production and pricing restrictions limited the availability of cost-effective, green alternatives.
Locus PI can address these challenges by directly replacing petrochemical surfactants in CPG product formulations with safer, biodegradable, all natural and GMO-free biosurfactant ingredients that offer at least a 37% lower carbon footprint and 5-25X better performance in formulations, which results in much lower dosage rates. Each solution is multifunctional and can be easily customised to individual formulation needs.
“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 utilises the globally recognised proprietary bioinformatics and fermentation technology developed by Locus FS to create its biosurfactant ingredients. The approach creates customised green solutions at industry–low production costs and usage rates. It has already been used to successfully develop solutions proven to outperform chemicals in top industries including agriculture, oil & gas, animal nutrition and more—driving a shift to the use of environmentally friendly products.
“There is global demand for customisable green solutions, and we can provide them at commercially viable volumes and costs,” said Andrew (Andy) Lefkowitz, co-founder of Locus FS and a 2019 regional Entrepreneur of the Year. “For the first time, it’s possible to reduce the use of toxic chemicals and solve global challenges without sacrificing performance.”
