SEPAWA® CONGRESS 2022 

Speaker: Katie Lawrence

Company: Novozymes A/S

Title: Reformulating Detergents to Stay Competitive in a Stressed Time

Abstract: Rising raw material prices and squeezed supply of many critical ingredients has caused a volatile situation for detergent producers globally. As a result, reformulation has in many cases become a necessity in order to optimize for supply constraints and maintain profit margins. Additionally, consumers are still seeking greener formulations meaning ecolabel launches are increasing and the green segment is continuing to grow. Finally, despite a rise in wash temperatures during covid, consumers are returning to low temperature washing where cleaning is challenged. The combination of market pressure and consumer habits has created a perfect storm for brining optimized detergent formulations to the shelf. Over years of research, biology has proven to be an indispensable tool for creating detergent formulations that address modern day cleaning challenges and wash conditions. Biological solutions such as enzymes can help to close performance gaps, and they do so while balancing formulation cost and supporting greener formulations. Additionally, new enzyme technology supports the replacement of polymers and optical brighteners for improved whiteness and anti-greying benefits. New data will be discussed which shows a formulation case study with plant-based detergents and unique enzyme technology can outperform conventional formulations at a similar cost and improved environmental metrics.