Croda to Produce Eco Surfactants at Atlas Point Facility

The producer of high performance ingredients and technologies, Croda, celebrated the upcoming commissioning of its latest investment at its Atlas Point manufacturing site in New Castle, Delaware. The new plant is capable of producing 100 % renewable, 100 % bio-based non-ionic surfactants, which are active emulsifying agents used in a wide range of consumer products.

New Castle/USA — The expansion of the Atlas Point facility enables the company to use bio-ethanol derived from natural feedstocks for the manufacture of its renewable surfactants, significantly increasing the bio-based content of ethoxylated products and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Moreover, the ingredients will be manufactured with renewable energy.

These non-ionic surfactants are incorporated into many 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, to be sold under an 'Eco' brand prefix, will enable the creation of 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.

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

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.