Unilever, global consumer brands company, has teamed up with Australian biotech firm Nufarm in a pioneering initiative to replace petrochemical-based ingredients in cleaning products with plant-derived oils. Central to this collaboration is the development of a new sugarcane variety that will enable sustainable ingredient production.

Fossil fuels are commonly used in cleaning products like detergents and soaps, contributing to substantial carbon footprints. On average, petrochemical-based ingredients account for half of these products’ emissions. This partnership addresses these challenges by leveraging biotechnology to incorporate plant-based alternatives.

The collaboration aligns with Unilever’s Climate Transition Action Plan (CTAP), which outlines the company’s goal to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 39% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2039. Reformulating products with low-GHG, plant-based ingredients is a core strategy, especially as raw materials contribute 52% of Unilever’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“This partnership enables us to identify alternative ingredients for our household, beauty, and personal care brands, which will further support our ambition to reach net zero emissions across our value chain by 2039,” said Neil Parry, Unilever’s Head of Biotechnology.

Nufarm brings its expertise in developing “energy cane,” a high-biomass sugarcane optimized for biofuel feedstock. This project focuses on creating a new variety capable of producing biomass oils from the entire plant, including stems and leaves. These oils will serve as sustainable ingredients in products like detergents and personal care items.

Additional benefits of this innovative crop include drought resistance, better climate adaptability, and improved soil conservation. Beyond oils, the sugarcane will also produce sugar that could be used for specialty ingredients like fragrances and enzymes. Leftover plant fibers may support sustainable packaging solutions.

“This technology and associated know-how further enhance Nufarm’s novel, sustainable and scalable oils strategy in high biomass crops like energy cane and forage sorghum and provides new transformational oils platform potential. The ag industry has both the challenge and opportunity of the century. Together, with key downstream partners like Unilever, we are entering new markets not traditionally served by agriculture.” said Greg Hunt, CEO of Nufarm.

"By continuing to invest in biotechnology, we aim to further unlock the power of nature and build a more sustainable and diverse supply chain for the future." Parry added.