How DuPont and P&G plan to make detergent from agricultural waste

Date:17 Oct 2014

Country: United States

Application

• Sustainable Detergent Production: Using cellulosic ethanol derived from agricultural waste in Tide Coldwater detergent reduces reliance on petroleum and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.

Description

Procter & Gamble and DuPont are collaborating to produce laundry detergent from agricultural waste by using cellulosic ethanol. This renewable ethanol, derived from farm by-products, reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional petroleum or corn-based ethanol. DuPont's new biorefinery in Iowa will produce 30 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually. Tide Coldwater will be the first detergent to use this sustainable ingredient, promoting both environmental benefits and high performance.

Pathway Description:

The process used in this project involves converting agricultural waste into cellulosic ethanol through a biorefinery. DuPont’s facility in Iowa employs advanced bioengineering techniques to break down farm by-products like corn stover into fermentable sugars. These sugars are then fermented into ethanol, which is used as a key ingredient in Tide Coldwater detergent. This ethanol replaces traditional petroleum or corn-based ethanol, offering a more sustainable solution.