- First commercially available microbial biosurfactants sourced from side- and waste streams.
- AmphiCare® and AmphiClean® aimed at personal- and home care markets.
Ghent, 8 October 2024 – Belgian startup AmphiStar, a leader in bio-based surfactant innovation, announces the launch of AmphiCare® and AmphiClean®. Made entirely from organic waste- and side streams, the newly launched products are the first ever fully upcycled biobased surfactants to enter the market.
Produced using clean biological conversion processes and derived from local, organic biowaste and side streams from agri-food processing, AmphiStar’s biosurfactants 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® and AmphiClean® 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 meets the industry’s demands for skin compatibility, mildness and performance, setting a new standard for sustainable beauty products.
AmphiClean® is aimed at the home care market and is available in standard purity. It is optimised for high-performance cleaning products, including multi-surface cleaners, dishwashing products and detergents, delivering effective degreasing and dirt removal while reducing environmental impact.
“AmphiCare® and AmphiClean® represent a significant breakthrough in the shift towards fully sustainable surfactants,” says 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 and home care industries. Our successful collaboration with Ecover, which launched a consumer product featuring our waste-based biosurfactants last year, showcases the potential of these innovative solutions and reinforces our commitment to revolutionising the surfactant market.”
The launch of AmphiCare® and AmphiClean® is just the beginning, paving the way for the commercialisation of a variety of completely novel biosurfactants. AmphiStar’s cutting-edge biotechnology platform, the result of over fifteen years of integrated strain- and process development, enables the creation of new, bespoke molecules designed for specific performance challenges.
“We are taking strides towards a new era in surfactant innovation,” says Pierre-Franck Valentin, CEO of AmphiStar. “Our commitment to developing novel biosurfactants from waste feedstocks positions us to address the evolving needs of personal care and home care industries. With our advanced biotechnology platform, we are excited to explore new functionalities and bespoke solutions that will redefine performance standards while promoting sustainability in every application.”
By continuing to innovate, AmphiStar aims to expand its offerings beyond its current product lines to develop advanced surfactants that address industry-specific challenges in personal care, home care and beyond while meeting performance and sustainability demands.
