AmphiStar has launched AmphiCare, a bio-based personal care surfactant made entirely from organic waste- and side streams.
The Belgian startup says the product is the first fully upcycled bio-based surfactant to enter the personal care market.
Produced using clean biological conversion processes and derived from local, organic biowaste and side streams from agri-food processing, AmphiStar’s biosurfactant adhere to circular economy principles, offering environmentally friendly, safe and biodegradable alternatives.
By avoiding reliance on fossil feedstocks and crops like vegetable oil (e.g. palm oil) or sugar, AmphiCare is said to demonstrate a superior sustainability profile and a more favourable lifecycle analysis compared to mainstream chemically produced surfactants (fossil- and biobased) and other commercial microbial biosurfactants.
AmphiCare is designed for the personal care market, featuring the high purity and functionality required for cosmetic products such as shampoos, makeup removers and other skincare products.
It is said to meet the industry's demands for skin compatibility, mildness and performance, setting a new standard for sustainable beauty products.
"AmphiCare represents a significant breakthrough in the shift towards fully sustainable surfactants," said Sophie Roelants, co-founder and COO of AmphiStar.
"By utilising non-virgin feedstocks, we are not only reducing reliance on fossil and virgin bio-based feedstocks such as palm oil but also providing high-performing, scalable alternatives that meet the demands of today's personal care industry,” she added.
