Belgian upcycled biosurfactant developer AmphiStar has launched AmphiNova®, its proprietary platform of more than 80 biosurfactant molecules. Developed through years of synthetic biology and bioprocessing, the platform expands the range of sustainable, high-performance surfactants available to the market and enables further development and optimisation of new molecules.
These new molecules combine strong functional performance with a sustainable production approach. The diverse portfolio of biosurfactant molecules on the AmphiNova platform meets the needs of a wide range of industries. Each molecule is selected and optimised for specific properties, combining core surfactant functionality with additional performance benefits depending on the application.
The launch of AmphiNova enables increased collaboration between AmphiStar and formulators. These partnerships will focus on bringing AmphiStar’s biosurfactant molecules into a wider range of consumer and industrial applications, while enabling formulators to explore a broader set of molecules with different functional properties and performance characteristics.
AmphiStar CEO, Pierre-Franck Valentin, commented: “AmphiNova is a game changer for us because we now have a ready-made portfolio of molecules as a starting point for meeting a diverse range of industry needs. With further tailoring we can meet the exact needs of an individual client or application to ensure that unprecedented sustainability doesn’t compromise functionality.”
AmphiStar COO, Sophie Roelants adds: “AmphiNova not only offers the variety of new sustainable ingredients the surfactant market is looking for, it encompasses a proprietary SYNBIO technology platform that allows AmphiStar to design and deliver designer surfactants to market. This will be key to make biosurfactants mainstream.”
AmphiStar is employing a dual approach to bring AmphiNova to market. Firstly, the company is building a pipeline of partners across relevant industries, establishing Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) on specific AmphiNova molecules to support market entry with strong technical and commercial alignment. These partnerships enable targeted and strategic co-development. JDAs are reserved for specific markets and regions where deep collaboration makes strategic sense.
In parallel, AmphiStar will launch selected AmphiNova molecules directly to market in the coming year. These new commercial grades will expand AmphiStar’s portfolio of personal and home care biosurfactants beyond its current four products, AmphiCare® A & L and AmphiClean® A & L, which were launched in October 2024. They represent the first in a series of additional biosurfactants to be introduced through the platform.
A life cycle assessment completed in March 2025 highlighted the sustainability profile of AmphiStar’s biosurfactants compared to conventional alternatives, including a four-fold reduction in CO2 emissions, an 18-fold reduction in water deprivation, a 5.5-fold lower impact on human health and a 15-fold lower overall environmental impact. Conducted on the AmphiCare® biosurfactant, the study demonstrated the potential of significant reductions in the impact of surfactants, the majority of which are not currently sustainable.
