AmphiStar unveils AmphiNova to scale sustainable surfactants
This launch introduces a sustainable alternative to synthetic surfactants and those dependent on virgin crops.
BELGIUM – AmphiStar, the Ghent-based Belgian biosurfactant innovator, has unveiled AmphiNova®, its proprietary biosurfactant platform comprising more than 80 versatile biosurfactants derived from biological waste byproducts and side streams.
This launch positions AmphiNova® as a comprehensive molecule catalogue open for collaboration in various personal care applications, particularly for partners innovating novel surfactants with a sustainability focus.
According to the company, each molecule in the platform has been meticulously selected and refined to optimize its unique properties, ensuring precise alignment with targeted uses and enhancing core surfactant performance.
By expanding access to a broader array of biosurfactant molecules with diverse functionalities and characteristics, the initiative strengthens potential partnerships with formulators seeking innovative options.
Pierre-Franck Valentin, CEO of AmphiStar, stated, “AmphiNova is a game changer for us because we now have a ready-made portfolio of molecules as a starting point for meeting a diverse range of industry needs.¨
¨With further tailoring, we can meet the exact needs of an individual client or application to ensure that unprecedented sustainability doesn’t compromise functionality.”
Complementing this, Sophie Roelants, COO of AmphiStar, highlighted how the platform not only delivers the range of new sustainable ingredients sought by the surfactant sector but also incorporates a proprietary synthetic biology technology that enables the design and commercialization of tailored designer surfactants.
The company is pursuing a two-pronged market entry strategy. First, it is cultivating a network of partners across sectors through targeted collaborations and joint development agreements to achieve robust technical and commercial collaboration, concentrating efforts on key markets or regions for optimal co-innovation results.
Second, AmphiStar will introduce select AmphiNova® molecules to the market in 2026, augmenting its existing lineup of four biosurfactants for personal and home care, which debuted in 2024.
Underpinning these efforts is robust sustainability validation: a life cycle assessment finalized in March 2025 confirmed that AmphiStar’s biosurfactants outperform conventional counterparts in reducing CO2 emissions, water consumption, and overall environmental footprint.
Meanwhile, late last year, AmphiStar secured an additional €2.5 million (USD 2.88 million) in funding from Germany’s Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND) to accelerate the scalable manufacturing of its sustainable microbial biosurfactants.
This marks the third consecutive SPRIND award for AmphiStar, bringing total agency funding to €6 million (USD 6.91 million), demonstrating strong confidence in the company’s pioneering approach to the circular bioeconomy and sustainable chemistry.
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