Spherelose™

A bio-derived and biodegradable surfactant

The Challenge

Surfactants are agents which reduce the surface tension between two liquids or a liquid and a gas or solid. Comprised of water-attracting and water-repelling parts, surfactants facilitate the mixing of water and oil. This property makes compounds fundamental to the US$45 billion global surfactant market which includes cleaning, cosmetics, and personal care products. However, current market surfactants tend to be sourced from unsustainable petroleum products and many are non-biodegradable pollutants.

The Solution

Through scientific curiosity and blue-sky thinking, Spherelose™ answers the call for a bio-derived and biodegradable surfactant. Its particles can be created using wood pulp and small amounts of sunflower oil and olive oil, which do not contribute to tropical deforestation.

The Investment

The development and early-stage commercialisation of Spherelose™ has been supported by funding from AUT Ventures, KiwiNet, and the Science for Technological Innovation Challenge (SfTI). AUT Ventures is currently working towards launching a start-up from Spherelose™ in 2024.