AmphiClean® – Next-Generation Cleaning Power
The first fully upcycled biosurfactants for home care formulations
Sustainable, high-performance cleaning without compromise
AmphiClean® is a breakthrough fully upcycled microbial biosurfactant offering a superior sustainability profile while delivering high-performance cleaning. Formulated entirely from bio-based waste and side streams, AmphiClean® is an environmentally responsible alternative to fossil- and palm oil-based surfactants used in conventional home care products.
Key benefits & features
- 100% Upcycled & Sustainable. Derived from food waste and agricultural by-products, ensuring minimal resource depletion.
- High-Performance Cleaning. Effectively removes grease and dirt while maintaining environmental safety.
- Biodegradable & Non-Toxic. Safe for ecosystems, reducing pollution from household cleaning products.
- Palm-Free & Fossil-Free. Reduces deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional surfactants.
- Lower CO₂ Footprint. 50-70% lower emissions compared to fossil- and palm-based surfactants.
SUSTAINABILITY AT ITS CORE
Why upcycled biosurfactants?
Traditional surfactants used in household cleaning, rely on fossil oil and/or first-generation bio-based feedstocks such as palm oil and sugar, contributing to deforestation, land degradation, and carbon emissions.
AmphiClean® disrupts this system by using food waste and agricultural side streams to create a truly circular solution.
What makes AmphiClean® different? It uses no fossil feedstocks, no palm oil, and has no land use impact, helping to avoid deforestation and reduce pressure on agricultural expansion. Its low-energy fermentation process, similar to brewing beer or wine, enables mild, efficient production while significantly reducing CO₂ emissions.
By prioritising these waste and side-streams, AmphiStar aligns with the goals of a circular economy, creating value across multiple sectors and reducing overall environmental impact.
Applications for home care products
AmphiClean® is optimised for a wide range of home care applications, including dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, multi-surface cleaners, degreasers, and hard surface cleaners—delivering powerful cleaning performance with strong sustainability credentials across everyday household formulations.
Formulation support:
- pH Range: 3.0 – 11.0
- Superior Degreasing Power: Effectively lifts and removes oils and grease.
- Tailored foaming properties: Based on the application, Amphistar can offer a high foaming or moderate foaming versions
- Biodegradable and skin-friendly: Quick breakdown and mild to skin for hand-wash and laundry detergents
AmphiClean® has been successfully scaled and validated in real-world applications through the WASTE2FUNC Project, funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).
In collaboration with leading partners, AmphiStar’s second-generation (2G) sophorolipids were integrated into Ecover’s Too Good To Waste® multi-surface cleaner—demonstrating that food waste-derived biosurfactants can deliver both high cleaning performance and measurable environmental benefits.
This commercial adoption highlights AmphiClean®’s scalability and the growing demand for viable, sustainable alternatives to conventional surfactants. By partnering with forward-thinking brands, AmphiStar is helping reduce industrial CO₂ emissions and advancing the transition toward a truly circular bio-based economy.
THE INNOVATION BEHIND AMPHICLEAN®
AmphiStar leverages over 20 years of strain- and process development to produce high-purity microbial biosurfactants via fermentation.
Unlike conventional chemical surfactant production—which relies on high temperatures, pressures, and toxic catalysts—AmphiClean® is manufactured under mild, water-based conditions, without harsh inputs. This ensures a cleaner, safer process with significantly lower environmental impact.
A cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) highlights AmphiClean®’s advantages over non-upcycled virgin biobased surfactants, achieving 4× lower CO₂ emissions, 7× less land use impact, 4× reduced resource consumption, and a 5.5× lower impact on human health. Compared to traditional palm oil-based surfactants, AmphiClean® delivers a 5–10× reduction in global warming potential, depending on the benchmark.
SAFETY & SUSTAINABILITY
AmphiClean® meets the highest standards for safety and sustainability—it is 100% biodegradable and non-toxic, free from 1,4-dioxane, sulphates, palm oil, and fossil feedstocks.
AmphiClean® is paving the way in eco-friendly home care, offering manufacturers a solution that aligns with consumers’ demand for high-performance, sustainable cleaning products. Request a sample or speak to our experts today!
