Viridi unveils world’s first CO2​-capturing surfactant to replace palm oil

UK – Viridi, a UK-based cleantech startup, has introduced Vireya, touted as the world’s first anionic surfactant utilizing captured carbon dioxide as its primary raw material. 

This innovative surfactant is designed to replace traditional palm oil-derived feedstocks, which are both carbon-intensive and associated with environmental issues, including deforestation. 

By using CO2, Vireya achieves a significant reduction in carbon footprint—around 70% less than typical palm-derived surfactants. 

This not only helps the personal care industry reduce its environmental impact but also supports compliance with increasingly strict regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

In terms of performance, Vireya offers benefits that go beyond its sustainability credentials. 

It provides effective cleansing and good foaming properties comparable to traditional Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) but with a tenfold improvement in skin mildness. 

This has been demonstrated by in vitro tests measuring potential skin irritancy, indicating that Vireya is much gentler on the skin, reducing the risk of irritation common with many surfactants. 

In addition, Vireya contains no 1,4-dioxane, a synthetic chemical linked to potential carcinogenic effects, which is often found as a contaminant in conventional surfactants.

The surfactant’s production is feasible in existing manufacturing facilities without requiring new infrastructure, enabling quick and cost-effective industry adoption.

Vireya’s combination of advanced environmental benefits, enhanced skin compatibility, and strong cleaning performance positions it as a groundbreaking ingredient for a wide range of personal care products, including shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, and makeup removers. 

This development marks a fundamental shift in surfactant chemistry, supporting brands that seek to innovate products that align with consumer demand for sustainability and regulatory compliance, without compromising efficacy or sensory quality.

In a similar move, Clean Food Group (CFG), The Hut Group (THG), and Croda have partnered to launch CLEAN Oil™ 25, a sustainable palm oil alternative for the beauty and personal care sector. 

This ingredient, produced through the fermentation of food waste using yeast strains, has recently secured regulatory approval for cosmetic use in the UK, Europe, and the US, opening commercial pathways for its adoption in formulations across these markets.

This collaboration combines CFG’s biotechnology expertise and proprietary CLEAN OilCell™ technology, THG LABS’ 30+ years of innovation and manufacturing experience in beauty products, and Croda’s global speciality chemical manufacturing capabilities. 

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