Future of Surfactants

Two Future of Surfactants Summits will be held in the US and Spain in the coming months. First up, the North American Summit will be held in Chicago, Sept. 19 & 20, 2018. The schedule includes a site visit to the Method Soap Factory on Sept. 18.


The European event will take place in Madrid, Feb. 6 & 7, 2019. Over the two days, the participants will discuss the industry's most pressing matters, such as: regulation updates, moving towards circular economy & achieving sustainability targets, matching consumers' expectations and how to keep innovating in a mature industry. Topics to be presented include:

Availability & Capacity of Feedstocks & Surfactants: Current & Mid to Long Term Outlook

Gaining Insights on regulation framing the Industry & its Potential Consequences

How the Industry is Becoming More Sustainable: Best Practices & Future Action Plan

Surfactants New Developments: What Innovations to Expect?

Bio-Based Surfactants vs. Fossil Fuel Derived: Assessing Alternative Feedstocks to Petrochemicals 

The Role of Enzymes in the Surfactants Industry

Enhancing Biodegradability across all Surfactants

Downgrading: Challenges & Opportunities

Surfactants Applications: Focus on End-Markets & Product

Meeting Consumers' Expectations by Integrating them into the Development Process

Bridging the Gap between Surfactants Producers & End-Products Manufacturers to Enhance Innovation

This new edition will bring together senior executives from the entire value chain: feedstocks suppliers, surfactants producers, end-product manufacturers, along with technology providers and industry associations.


The conference committee includes: Ulf Shröder, R&D manager, global R&D, EMEIA, AkzoNobel; Jef Wittouck, managing director, Christeyns; Dirk Leinweber, director of competence center surfactants & functional chemicals, Clariant; Chris Sayner, BP customer alliances corporate sustainability, Croda and Helen Herd, head of R&D formulations, McBride.