Croda International Plc, the name behind high performance ingredients and technologies that are relied on by industries and consumers everywhere, celebrated the upcoming commissioning of its latest investment at its Atlas Point manufacturing site in New Castle, Delaware, on Tuesday (18 October). The first of its type in the United States, the new plant is capable of producing 100 percent renewable, 100 percent bio-based non-ionic surfactants, which are active emulsifying agents used in a wide range of consumer products.

Croda International Plc Group Chief Executive, Steve Foots, and President of Personal Care and North America, Sandra Breene, were joined by Delaware Governor John Carney and other local leaders for a ribbon cutting celebration at the manufacturing facility. The project reflects the successful collaboration between the state and the Company.

Turning the World Green Through Innovation

In the 1940s, Croda set an industry standard by bringing the iconic Tween™ non-ionic surfactants to the market to meet customer needs for effective emulsification, a way of keeping oil and water together in formulations. Further developments included the launch of Brij™ and Myrj™ product ranges and creating the HLB system, a systematic approach to selecting the most effective emulsifier for specific emulsion systems. 

Now, Croda will once again revolutionise the industry with its latest investment in sustainability. This expansion of the Atlas Point facility enables Croda to use bio-ethanol derived from natural feedstocks for the manufacture of its 100 percent renewable surfactants, significantly increasing the bio-based content of ethoxylated products and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This marks a turning point in the industry, as companies traditionally use petrochemical ingredients over sustainable ones when seeking high performance non-ionic surfactants for the formulation of consumer products. Now, Croda has implemented a way to use renewable ingredients without sacrificing product performance. Moreover, the ingredients will be manufactured with renewable energy.

While not a consumer brand itself, Croda’s non-ionic surfactants are incorporated into many popular products found on the market, from face creams to toothpaste and paint to laundry detergent, where they have been used for decades. This new wide range of 100 percent renewable, 100 percent bio-based ingredients, to be sold under an ECO brand prefix, will enable the creation of both new and re-imagined products, including: cosmetics and hair care products in the personal care industry; lubricants and coatings in the automotive industry; air- and floor-care products in the cleaning industry; as well as drilling fluids in the oil industry.

“At Croda, investing in sustainability and innovation is our lifeblood. We invest in the strength of our global team to develop new ideas, using renewable resources, that maximise the benefits of sustainability for each for our customers,” said Foots. “Thanks to this investment, we will now offer our customers a strong alternative in terms of renewability and performance to replace petrochemical-based ingredients in their formulations without compromising performance. This will help our customers reach their own sustainability goals and serve the needs of their customers.”

Track Record of Sustainability in Delaware

Croda has a longstanding commitment to investing in sustainability and innovation at Atlas Point. In 2012, Croda invested US$8 million in a renewable energy project using landfill gas to generate electricity and steam. In 2013, it invested US$2.3 million in solar panels at Atlas Point, which reduced Croda’s annual CO2 emissions by 11,600 tons. These projects combined generate more than 60 percent of the site’s energy.

“Innovative companies like Croda continue to help drive Delaware’s economy, and we welcome this expansion and continued investment in our state,” said Governor Carney. “This investment is further evidence that Delaware remains a competitive place to do business, grow a company and create good-paying jobs.”

For years, Croda’s Atlas Point facility has been a supportive corporate citizen and active member of its community. Over the last two years, the expansion of the Atlas Point facility has brought over 250 construction jobs to Delaware. Now, Croda will add 30 new, full-time employees from the region to the workforce at Atlas Point.