Global specialty chemicals supplier Cognis recently opened a new state-of-the-art production facility for alkyl polyglucoside (APG) surfactants at its site in Jinshan, China. The company also signed the Responsible Care Charter there.
Along with its other two production sites for APG surfactants in Düsseldorf, Germany and Cincinnati, USA, the Jinshan facility will enable Cognis to service the increasing demand for green solutions in the Asia-Pacific region. These surfactants are made from renewable plant-derived materials such as vegetable oils and starch. The Asia-Pacific region is regarded as a market with significant growth potential that Cognis says fits perfectly with its focus on high-growth, high-demand areas driven by the wellness and sustainability trends. Comments Richard Ridinger, executive vice president care chemicals: “The new facility in China complements our existing plants in Germany and the US, and improves global availability of our high-quality APG surfactants – and is a real investment in the company’s future. Today Cognis also used the opportunity to officially sign the Responsible Care Charter with the aim to further improve safety, health and environmental performance. The Cognis responsible care team in Greater China will soon start coordinating self-assessment processes within the affiliate and integrating the principles of responsible care into its standards and procedures.” By opening its new APG facility in Jinshan, China, Cognis claims it is responding to the increasing environmental awareness and consumer demand for highperformance products in the Asia-Pacific region. Adds Young- Yull Kim, vice president care chemicals sales and marketing Asia-Pacific: “We closely follow the market development in Asia-Pacific and with the new facility in China, we can serve our regional customers even better. In order to demonstrate product benefits and support our customers on application technologies, we will also be establishing technical service facilities in Jinshan.” APG surfactants are a preferred ingredient by many customers in bath and shower gels, household cleaners, dishwashing and laundry detergents and can be widely applied in agrochemical formulations.
