Evonik Biosurfactants Plant
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January 18, 2024

Evonik manufactures first product from world’s first industrial-scale rhamnolipid biosurfactant plant

Evonik has made the first product from its new industrial-scale rhamnolipid plant in Slovakia. The plant was completed ahead of schedule and is worth a triple-digit million-euro. Evonik's rhamnolipids are biobased and biodegradable, made by fermentation from European corn sugar. This does not use oil or tropical plants. The biosurfactants work well in cleaners, hair care, and industry. They have low toxicity and good foam. This new plant gives better eco-friendly options for the market.

  • Evonik's new plant in Slovakia produces sustainable rhamnolipid biosurfactants with fermentation-based manufacturing.
  • Rhamnolipids are biodegradable, biobased, and offer a sustainable alternative to conventional surfactants.
  • High-performance rhamnolipids serve industrial and cleaning applications with minimal environmental impact.
  • Completed ahead of schedule, the plant accelerates sustainable product market availability for Evonik's customers.
  • Evonik's Nutrition & Care division focuses on biosolutions that reduce waste and preserve global biodiversity.

Evonik has manufactured the first product from its industrial-scale facility for sustainable biosurfactants that has been completed ahead of schedule at its site in Slovakia.

  • New triple-digit million-euro facility in Slovakia completed ahead of schedule
  • Meets high demand for biobased, biodegradable rhamnolipids for cleaning and personal care applications
  • Latest milestone toward sustainability-driven biosolutions

Evonik has manufactured the first product from its industrial-scale facility for sustainable biosurfactants that has been completed ahead of schedule at its site in Slovakia. The new plant is the first worldwide to produce sustainable rhamnolipid biosurfactants. Evonik’s rhamnolipids are exceptionally high quality and provide the company with a unique market position due to the IP-protected, fermentation-based manufacturing process.

Rhamnolipids and other sustainable biosurfactants in Evonik’s portfolio draw on the company’s biotechnology platform in its life sciences division, Nutrition & Care. Driven by sustainability, the division is using innovative biosolutions to address the challenges of biocircular care through closed-loop carbon systems, while maintaining high functionality and preserving biodiversity.

“Our high-performance rhamnolipids are setting a precedent, not only at Evonik, but as part of a broader sustainable chemicals revolution. We are excited to be leading the way with our biosolutions,” said Johann-Caspar Gammelin, president of Evonik’s Nutrition & Care division.

“Completing this plant ahead of schedule is a milestone for our business and a testament to our technical expertise, but most importantly, it enables our customers to bring more sustainable cleaning and personal care products to market faster,” said Yann d'Hervé, head of Evonik's Care Solutions business line.

Rhamnolipids are a class of biosurfactants that are sustainably manufactured via a fermentation process using European corn sugar as the main raw material. This biogenic, carbon-based process does not require petrochemical feedstocks or tropical oils. Rhamnolipids are fully biodegradable and offer a sustainable alternative to conventional surfactants due to their biobased raw materials, and low toxicological and ecotoxicological profile. Their exceptional foam-forming properties and mildness make them ideal for use in household cleaners and personal care products such as shampoos and micellar waters. They also offer superior performance for industrial applications such as coatings, mining and oil and gas.

Evonik Fermas, located in Slovenská Ľupča in Slovakia, was founded in 1992 as a joint venture between Degussa AG and Biotika a.s. The company initially produced amino acids for animal feed using biotechnology, but in 1998 became a 100 percent subsidiary of Evonik, expanding its expertise to include the production of fermentation-based products for animal nutrition, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and personal care. In 2016, Evonik Fermas ran the first pilot plant for the production of sustainable biosurfactants via fermentation.

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Evonik: Leading beyond chemistry

Evonik goes beyond the boundaries of chemistry with its combination of innovative strength and leading technological expertise. The global chemical company, headquartered in Essen, Germany, is active in more than 100 countries and generated sales of €14.1 billion and earnings (adjusted EBITDA) of €1.9 billion in 2025. The common motivation of the approximately 31,000 employees: to provide customers with a decisive competitive advantage with tailor-made products and solutions as a superforce for industry, thereby improving people's lives. In all markets. Every day.

About Nutrition & Care

The focus of the business of the Nutrition & Care division is on health and quality of life. It develops differentiated solutions for active pharmaceutical ingredients, medical devices, nutrition for humans and animals, personal care, cosmetics, and household cleaning. In these resilient end markets, the division generated sales of €3.76 billion in 2024 with more than 5,500 employees.  

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.