This strategic move aims to provide the detergency industry with a crucial, more sustainable raw material, capitalizing on Honeywell's global licensing platform.
In a major push toward environmental sustainability within the chemical and homecare industries, global LAB leader Moeve and technology giant Honeywell announced an expanded collaboration to commercialize bio-based Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) production technologies. LAB is the essential raw material for Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS), the primary surfactant that gives commonly used household detergents their cleaning power.
The expanded agreement centers on bringing NextLab-R, Moeve's proprietary technology for producing LAB from renewable raw materials, to the global market. This process technology will be made available through Honeywell UOP’s licensing platform, offering detergent manufacturers a vital, lower-carbon, and high-performance alternative to traditional fossil-based LAB.
“NextLab-R proves that a more sustainable LAB can be produced industrially without compromising on performance,” said José María Solana, CEO of Moeve Chemicals. This statement highlights a key factor for the industry: the transition to sustainable feedstocks must not sacrifice the cleaning effectiveness consumers expect from their detergents. Solana noted that the agreement marks a new chapter in the long-standing relationship between the two companies, reflecting a shared goal to transform sustainable chemical technologies into industrial realities.
Rajesh Gattupalli, president of Honeywell UOP, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the company's commitment to effective and environmentally friendly products. “By collaborating with Moeve, we are offering detergent manufacturers a new generation of lower-carbon, high-performance solutions,” Gattupalli stated.
The partnership builds upon a robust, decades-long history of joint innovation. Honeywell pioneered LAB process licensing in the 1960s, a move that helped drive the evolution toward more environmentally responsible detergent technologies. Moeve, as the world's leading LAB producer, has collaborated with Honeywell for over three decades, particularly on energy-efficient production systems like the Detal-Plus™ process, which utilizes Honeywell UOP’s proprietary catalysts.
Today, Honeywell UOP process technologies are already foundational, accounting for more than 70% of global biodegradable detergent production that relies on LAB. This pervasive market presence positions the collaboration to make a significant and timely impact on the industry's sustainability goals by facilitating a broad transition to renewable alternatives like NextLab-R. The global licensing of this new technology is expected to be a key catalyst for reducing the overall carbon footprint of household cleaning products globally.
