Yesterday, October 18, Croda International Plc celebrated the upcoming commissioning of its latest investment at its Atlas Point manufacturing site in New Castle, Delaware. The first of its type in the United States, the new plant is capable of producing 100 percent renewable, 100 percent bio-based non-ionic surfactants, which are active emulsifying agents used in a wide range of consumer products. Moreover, the ingredients will be manufactured with renewable energy.

Croda International Plc celebrated the upcoming commissioning of its latest investment at its Atlas Point manufacturing site in New Castle, Delaware. The first of its type in the United States, the new plant is capable of producing 100 percent renewable, 100 percent bio-based non-ionic surfactants. Left to right: Managing Director Operations, Croda North America, Robert Stewart; Group Chief Executive, Croda International Plc, Steve Foots; Delaware Governor John Carney; President, Personal Care, Croda International Plc and President, North America, Sandra Breene. (Photo: Business Wire)

Croda International Plc Group Chief Executive, Steve Foots, and President of Personal Care and North America, Sandra Breene, were joined by Delaware Governor John Carney and other local leaders for a ribbon cutting celebration at the manufacturing facility.

Green innovation

This expansion of the Atlas Point facility enables Croda to use bio-ethanol derived from natural feedstocks for the manufacture of its 100 percent renewable surfactants, significantly increasing the bio-based content of ethoxylated products and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. According to Croda, the use of renewable ingredients is not sacrificing product performance.

Croda’s non-ionic surfactants are incorporated into many popular products found on the market, from face creams to toothpaste and paint to laundry detergent. This new wide range of 100 percent renewable, 100 percent bio-based ingredients, to be sold under an ECO brand prefix, will enable the creation of both new and re-imagined products, including cosmetics and hair care products.

“At Croda, investing in sustainability and innovation is our lifeblood. We invest in the strength of our global team to develop new ideas, using renewable resources, that maximise the benefits of sustainability for each for our customers,” said Foots. “Thanks to this investment, we will now offer our customers a strong alternative in terms of renewability and performance to replace petrochemical-based ingredients in their formulations without compromising performance. This will help our customers reach their own sustainability goals and serve the needs of their customers.”