In Europe, Croda International, which focuses on manufacturing sustainable specialty chemicals, said that it has acquired Enza Biotech AB. Enza Biotech, spun out of Lund University in Sweden, aims to develop the next generation of renewable surfactants using carbohydrate-based chemistry. Croda CEO Steve Foots says that the acquisition will allow Croda to “fill an identified technology gap in the surfactants market using natural and renewable raw materials.” The acquisition will be particularly fruitful toward Croda’s customers in the personal care, crop care and health care markets, which are demanding sustainable ingredients to satisfy consumer demand. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Enza Biotech employees, including co-founders Maria Andersson and Stefan Ulvenlund, will become part of the Croda team to lead the commercialization of their work following the close of the acquisition.