Evonik has inaugurated a triple-digit million-euro rhamnolipid biosurfactants plant at its site in Slovenská Ľupča, Slovakia.
The facility is the first worldwide to manufacture industrial-scale quantities of sustainable rhamnolipid biosurfactants for personal care and other sectors.
Rhamnolipids are made from renewable corn feedstocks using a biotechnological process that yields a high-performing, non-toxic, biodegradable biosurfactant.
Biosurfactants are increasingly in demand because they provide a sustainable alternative to surfactants based on fossil fuels or tropical oils.
“We go beyond to create entirely new solutions and drive the sustainable transformation across multiple industries,” said Evonik CEO Christian Kullmann.
“Our leadership, based on systems thinking and a shared vision with our customers, has made this scalable action possible,” he added.
By 2030, Evonik aims to have invested more than €3 billion ($3.26 billion) in its Next Generation Solutions – products with superior sustainability benefits.
In addition to biosurfactants, Nutrition & Care’s biosolutions include biotech actives, cell culture solutions and nucleic acid-based medicines.
