Unilever To Buy Algae-Based Oil From Solazyme

Solazyme, Inc. a US-based renewable oil and bioproducts company, and Unilever have executed a commercial supply agreement for Solazyme’s Tailored algal oil, which is derived from algae.
 
The companies have been collaborating for five years on multiple projects with increasing levels of success culminating in this initial supply agreement.  This agreement covers the first of Solazyme and Unilever’s jointly developed tailored oils with an initial supply of at least 10,000 metric tons (MT).
 
The oil will be produced at the Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils facility, a joint venture of Solazyme and Bunge located at Bunge’s Moema sugar mill in Brazil.
 
Supply delivery is planned to begin in early 2014 and Unilever expects to purchase the full volume within twelve to eighteen months. Customary product validation trials are scheduled to take place in Q4 2013.
 
According to reports, the oil will be used by Unilever to manufacture personal care products.
 
 “Unilever is a global leader in both performance based consumer packaged goods and sustainability, and this agreement further solidifies their commitment to supply consumers with the best performing and most sustainable products available,” said Jonathan Wolfson, CEO, Solazyme. “Unilever is a highly valued strategic partner that has greatly influenced our ability to scale our tailored oil technology over the past several years. We look forward to the opportunity to continue to build and expand our relationship with Unilever as we take this next step in commercializing the world’s first tailored renewable oil production platform. We expect this to be the first of many supply agreements with Unilever.”

“This first supply agreement is the result of many years of successful collaboration, during which Solazyme demonstrated strength as a partner and continually achieved key development milestones outlined by our world-class scientific and technology teams,” said David Blanchard, chief category R&D Officer, Unilever. “We believe that Solazyme’s tailored oils technology can provide sustainable competitive advantage across many categories and brands, and we view this agreement as just the beginning of the commercial phase of our relationship.”