Caldic’s leading industry position will accelerate the adoption of biosurfactants in the European personal care industry. New generation of biosurfactants offers 4x decrease in CO₂ equivalent emissions and 50% lower overall environmental impact compared to non-upcycled equivalents.
Ghent, Belgium, 30 September 2025 – Caldic, a global distributor and development partner for ingredients and specialty chemical solutions, and Belgian biotech innovator AmphiStar are excited to announce an exclusive partnership to distribute and promote AmphiStar’s 100% upcycled biosurfactants for personal care applications across Europe.
The collaboration will see Caldic and AmphiStar join forces to mainstream biosurfactants as sustainable, mild and performant personal care ingredients. 100% based on upcycled bio-based waste- and side-streams, these biosurfactants align with the aims of the EU’s European Green Deal and Biotech Act by supporting customers in meeting the growing demand for sustainable, upcycled ingredients. With its extensive European customer base and application labs, Caldic will help accelerate the adoption of biosurfactants across the personal care sector. This initiative is fully in line with Caldic’s commitment to continuously invest in more sustainable product solutions that enable its customers to reduce their environmental footprint. It is also aligned with AmphiStar’s ambition to strengthen its commercial footprint across Europe.
“By partnering with AmphiStar, we are introducing a next-generation solution to our customers; high-performance biosurfactants created through advanced upcycling of side streams. In addition to its low carbon footprint, the range presents a unique level of circular innovation that turns underused resources into valuable, mild, and versatile ingredients,” says Michel Dewael, Commercial Director, Caldic Europe. “It provides our customers with novel solutions that care for people and the planet, opening the door to future-proof formulations. With our broad European network and application expertise, we are committed to driving their adoption across the personal care market.”
“This partnership allows us to accelerate our impact in Europe,” adds Pierre-Franck Valentin, CEO of AmphiStar. “Caldic’s networks and expertise in creating tailored solutions for personal care customers in Europe will enable us to penetrate the European market faster and help more customers transition to sustainable solutions.”
AmphiStar’s surfactants go beyond traditional bio-based solutions, being produced using a mild microbial fermentation process and circular, locally sourced and repurposed agri-food waste and side streams. The result is a new generation of sustainable biosurfactants which are not only fossil- and palm-free, but also NOT associated with direct land use. Moreover, they are readily biodegradable and safe for the skin and the environment. The use of waste- and side-streams as feedstocks eliminates dedicated agriculture for feedstock generation: a recent Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) identified at least a 4-fold decrease in CO₂ equivalent emissions compared to biosurfactants based on virgin biobased feedstocks, a significant decrease in land and water use and a 50% lower overall environmental impact compared to a non-upcycled equivalent. The gulf between fossil- and palm-based mainstream surfactants is even bigger.
The collaboration follows a partnership announced in June with US chemicals heavyweight Kensing, which will see AmphiStar’s biosurfactants distributed (and later manufactured) in North America.
AmphiStar is a leader in the development and production of 100% upcycled microbial biosurfactants, offering sustainable and performant alternatives to conventional surfactants. Through its innovative platform technology, AmphiStar transforms bio-based waste and side streams into a portfolio of high-performance biosurfactants that are independent of fossil feedstocks, palm feedstocks or direct land use—both sustainable and cost-effective. Serving industries such as personal care, home care, agrifood and beyond, AmphiStar is committed to driving the transition toward a circular economy.
AmphiStar leverages cutting-edge synthetic biology, microbial fermentation and mild processing techniques to produce eco-friendly alternatives to the non-sustainable surfactants on the market. As a pioneer in the field, AmphiStar is proud to offer the first commercially available biosurfactants made entirely from biobased waste- and side streams setting a new standard for environmental responsibility in the surfactant industry.