Moeve and Honeywell today announced an expanded collaboration to scale up production technologies of bio-based Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB), the raw material for making LAS (Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate), the main surfactant in the production of commonly used household detergents. This initiative combines advanced process innovation with next-generation surfactant development to address growing industry and consumer demand while promoting environmental sustainability.
Moeve’s technology to produce NextLab-R, the first LAB produced at industrial scale using renewable raw materials, will be made available to the market through Honeywell’s licensing platform, providing detergent manufacturers with a more sustainable raw material solution. The expanded agreement also adds joint process development and renewable LAB to Honeywell UOP’s licensing portfolio, underscoring both companies’ commitment to innovation and sustainability for LAB producers worldwide.
“Honeywell has a rich history of innovation in detergent technologies, meeting the need for effective and environmentally friendly products,” said Rajesh Gattupalli, president of Honeywell UOP. “By collaborating with Moeve, we are offering detergent manufacturers a new generation of lower-carbon, high-performance solutions.”
“NextLab-R proves that a more sustainable LAB can be produced industrially without compromising on performance,” said José María Solana, CEO of Moeve Chemicals. “This agreement marks a new chapter in our long-standing relationship with Honeywell. It reflects not only technical excellence, but also a shared ambition to make more sustainable chemical technologies a tangible industrial reality.”
Honeywell pioneered LAB process licensing in the 1960s, contributing to the evolution of more environmentally responsible detergent technologies. For over three decades, Moeve, the world's leading producer of LAB, and Honeywell have collaborated to advance energy-efficient LAB production technologies, including the Detal-Plus™ process that incorporates Honeywell UOP’s proprietary catalysts. Today, more than 70% of global biodegradable detergent production relies on LAB made using Honeywell UOP process technologies. This makes the
Moeve is a global company comprising over 11,000 employees, committed to sustainable energy and mobility, with the ambition to drive Europe’s energy transition and accelerate decarbonisation both within the company and for its customers
After leading the energy sector as Cepsa for more than 90 years, the company launched its new brand, Moeve, in October 2024. This new identity reflects the acceleration of its transformation to lead in the production of sustainable energy powered by green molecules, including green hydrogen and second-generation biofuels, as well as sustainable chemical products. It is also developing an extensive network of ultrafast electric chargers in Spain and Portugal to boost sustainable mobility.
Through its 2030 Positive Motion strategic plan, Moeve is working to transform mobility and energy to create a better world, ensuring today’s energy supply while focusing on sustainable energy solutions for the future.
The Global Impact Coalition (GIC) is a CEO-led platform driving the chemical value chain toward a circular, net-zero future. Incubated at the World Economic Forum, GIC turns sustainability challenges into commercial solutions through cross-industry collaboration. By co-developing and scaling new technologies and business models, GIC members tackle sustainability challenges no company can solve alone. GIC is guided by global leaders including BASF, SABIC, Clariant, Covestro, LG Chem, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Moeve, Syensqo, and SUEZ. For more information, visit GlobalImpactCoalition.com or LinkedIn @GlobalImpactCoalition
https://chemicals.moeveglobal.com/
Moeve is a global company comprising over 11,000 employees, committed to sustainable energy and mobility, with the ambition to drive Europe’s energy transition and accelerate decarbonisation both within the company and for its customers.
After leading the energy sector as Cepsa for more than 90 years, the company launched its new brand, Moeve, at the end of 2024. This new identity reflects the acceleration of its transformation to lead in the production of sustainable energy powered by green molecules, including green hydrogen and second-generation biofuels, as well as sustainable chemical products. It is also developing an extensive network of ultrafast electric chargers in Spain and Portugal to boost sustainable mobility.
Through its 2030 Positive Motion strategic plan, Moeve is working to transform mobility and energy to create a better world, ensuring today’s energy supply while focusing on sustainable energy solutions for the future.
Through its 2030 Positive Motion strategic plan, Moeve is working to transform mobility and energy to create a better world, ensuring today’s energy supply while focusing on sustainable energy solutions for the future.
About Honeywell
Honeywell is an integrated operating company serving a broad range of industries and geographies around the world, with a portfolio that is underpinned by our Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Forge platform. As a trusted partner, we help organizations solve the world's toughest, most complex challenges, providing actionable solutions and innovations for aerospace, building automation, industrial automation, process automation, and process technology, that help make the world smarter and safer as well as more secure and sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.
