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Consumer goods giant Unilever has formed a partnership with Australian agrochemical company Nufarm to develop plant-based oils for cleaning ingredients.
Derived from plant material, including leaves and stems, the biomass oil will be a source of fatty acids, which are key ingredients in Unilever’s laundry detergents and beauty and personal care products, the company said on November 26.
Nufarm previously developed and commercialized a type of sugarcane called Energy Cane, a sustainable crop that produces significantly more plant matter and sugar than traditional sugarcane, Unilever said.
As part of the partnership, biotechnology will be used to create a new, commercially viable variety of energy cane that can also produce biomass oil.
“This partnership enables us to identify alternative materials for our home, beauty and personal care brands that will further support our ambition to reach net zero emissions across our value chain by 2039,” said Neil Parry, head of biotechnology at Unilever.
The first phase of the project will focus on research and development in plant biotechnology.
In addition to biomass oil, the crop will continue to produce sugar, which can be used in other biotechnology processes to produce specialty ingredients such as fragrances, enzymes and cleaning ingredients used across Unilever’s portfolio, the company said.
The company said it will also explore whether the remaining plant fibers can be used to make paper and board for packaging.
Source: Online/OFA
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