Unilever and Evonik partner to launch natural surfactant

In London, consumer goods giant has partnered with Evonik to commercialize the natural surfactant rhamnolipid. Unilever’s Quix dishwashing liquid—the first household cleaning product to use rhamnolipid—was launched in Chile earlier this year.

“Our R&D team have been aware of Rhamnolipid for some years, but the technology and the science weren’t at a point where we were able to scale it and it remained an invention in a lab, until now,” Peter ter Kulve, President of Unilever’s Home Care business, says in a statement. “That’s why we are so delighted to be partnering with Evonik. Together, our teams have worked hard to deliver a sustainable and safe product with even better performance.”

Surfactants are key ingredients in cleaning formulations to remove dirt and grease.