Clariant Wins ACC Sustainability Leadership Award

Clariant, low-carbon glucamide surfactants, has announced winning the American Chemistry Council (ACC) Sustainable Leadership Award in the Product Safety, Innovation and Transparency category. The statement noted that GlucoTain® and GlucoPure® products are included in the glucamide surfactant series developed by Clariant. With the award presented by ACC, Clariant's sugar-based surfactants developed for personal care and household cleaning products were confirmed to be as effective as commonly used surfactants. Beyond their effectiveness, the substances were noted to play an important role in reducing carbon footprint by leading to lower emissions. The achieved reduction in carbon footprint was made possible through comprehensive work that included optimizing the production processes of raw materials and components used to develop the product. [caption id="attachment_125679" align="aligncenter"] GlucoTain and GlucoPure components deliver strong foaming and cleaning properties alongside sustainability benefits. (Photos: Clariant)[/caption]   ACC President and CEO Chris Jahn stated the following regarding the matter: "The chemical industry in which we operate is one of the world's most innovative industries, constantly striving to create solutions to the world's greatest challenges. For this reason, companies operating with climate consciousness are making fundamental changes in the materials they use to reduce carbon footprint and in the processes within their value chain. Clariant, one of these companies, has not only met consumers' expectations regarding sustainability through the glucamide surfactants it designed, but has also succeeded in increasing transparency regarding product lifecycle impacts and lower emissions. As ACC, we appreciate Clariant's achievement. Within this scope, we believe that this company's contribution to delivering safe chemistry with innovation and transparency will help other companies in the personal care and household cleaning sectors advance their sustainability commitments."

Christian Vang, Global Head of Clariant's Industrial Business Unit and Consumer Specialist, said: "Today, many consumers are turning toward personal care and household cleaning products that not only deliver strong foaming and cleaning properties but also contain safer formulations. In this direction, formula developers using our glucamides can develop superior-performing products while also having versatile functionality. This functionality allows for the need of smaller quantities of thickening and softening additives compared to other actives. Within this scope, our glucamides increase material efficiency in line with one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, responsible consumption and production, and contribute to more efficient use of resources," he said.

As a result of research, in carbon footprint analysis where 100% active content excluding solvents was considered from the beginning to the end of the production phase^[i], it was announced that formulations produced with Clariant's glucamides resulted in 1.6 kg less carbon dioxide emissions per kilogram of active content compared to similar products. In the comparison involving bio-based solvents, glucamides were noted to provide 1.2 kg carbon dioxide reduction per kilogram of active content.

As a result of all analyses conducted, it was stated that Clariant's low-carbon glucamides, thanks to their easy biodegradability, provide a Renewable Carbon Index reaching 96%, high biomass and good ecotox data. Additionally, it was announced that glucamides do not require long-term aquatic toxicity or irritant labels according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and hold COSMOS, Nordic Swan and Halal certifications. On the other hand, it was clarified that glucamides enable the development of formulations free of sulfates, CAPB^[ii] and betaine and innovative products. For more information about Glucamides and Life Cycle Assessment, you can visit https://www.clariant.com/   GlucoTain and GlucoPure components deliver strong foaming and cleaning properties alongside sustainability benefits. (Photos: Clariant)