Where are SurfactGreen’s premises and laboratories located?

The entire SurfactGreen team (management, sales, R&D and engineers) is based in Rennes, in Brittany.

Our company’s 100% plant-based technology was developed by Renne’s School of Chemistry (ENSCR) and is now formulated in our laboratories.

Are your green surfactants made in France?

Yes, our surfactants are exclusively manufactured in France. Each of our products is made by certified subcontractors. Their Quality certifications enable us to comply with Green Chemistry principles for all our processes, and to meet our customers’ requirements.

What impact does your manufacturing process have on the environment?

From formulation all the way through to usage, SurfactGreen products are designed to reduce their environmental impact as much as possible:

  • Our surfactants are all natural: they are solvent-free and exclusively created using European, plant-based, organic raw materials such as beetroot and rapeseed
  • Our manufacturing processes are in line with Green Chemistry principles, and the only sub-product generated is water
  • Our products are all biodegradable, and present low toxicity for humans and the environment

Where do your raw materials come from?

We pay very close attention to the origin of all our raw materials, regardless of whether the bio-sourced surfactants are then used for personal care, detergents or bitumen. Materials are sourced in Western Europe – namely as concerns beetroot and rapeseed.

Are your surfactants bio-sourced?

Yes, we exclusively develop surfactants of natural origin (between 95 and 100% as per the ISO 16128 standard), created using organic produce such as beetroot and rapeseed.

Moreover, we resort to upcycling for sugar beets. We make use of molasses unused by the food industry when formulating our solutions.

Upcycling consists in recovering products no longer needed and transforming them into goods of higher quality or better usage.

Are your formulas certified?

Yes, our CosmeGreen products dedicated to natural and organic cosmetics are COSMOS-certified by Ecocert and NATRUE. They are also of 100% natural origin, as per the ISO 16128 standard, and are not tested on animals.

What is the impact of our products on the environment?

Our products are easily biodegradable and very low in ecotoxicity.

I am looking for a more eco-friendly and less irritating conditioning agent to replace the Behentrimonium Chloride in my conditioner. Can I use CosmeGreen?

Yes. CosmeGreen is a biobased cationic that is 60X more ecofriendly than BTAC with the same level of detangling and conditioning properties. You can use it to replace BTAC or other quats in your formulas, but it is not a 1:1 switch. CosmeGreen is a combination of a cationic charge with a fatty alcohol chain.  This will require you to adjust the amount of fatty alcohols and co-emulsifiers to obtain the same level of performance.

If I use CosmeGreen, how do I keep the viscosity of my formula from changing over time?

You can develop a broad range of viscosities with CosmeGreen.  The viscosity of your formula depends on the concentration of CosmeGreen used in your formula and the co-agents you use.    The more CosmeGreen is used, the thicker your formula will be.

What do I do if my solids with CosmeGreen show crystallization after a few weeks at room temperature (appearance of white crystals on the formula)

Watch our video on how to make a solid conditioner with CosmeGreen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRixmm0BcFM&t=14s&ab_channel=SurfactGreen

You can also evaluate the oil to butter ratio and see if you obtain less crystals using less butter and more oil in your formula.

Is it safe to use cationic surfactants in my skin-care formulas?

Yes, you can use CosmeGreen in your skincare formulas.  Unlike petroleum-based surfactants, CosmeGreen is non-irritating for the skin.   It can be used to formulate leave-ons. It is film forming and provides a nice soft touch feel to the skin.

Sometimes there is a slight smell that stands out when the formula comes in contact with my skin. What is the best way to cover that smell?

We worked with an external fragrance house and they found that for emulsions: floral and spicy notes cover the base smell satisfactorily. Aromatic, musks, woody, et dihydromyrcenol notes should not be used. When formulating solids: green, marine, and fresh floral notes cover the base smell nicely.  Powdery, spicy and woody notes should not be used.

My sample of CosmeGreen has expired or is close to expiring. Can I still use it?

Do not use batches that are too old or have expired. Reach out to surfactgreen@surfactgreen.com for a new sample.

What is the best lab equipment to make a stable emulsion with CosmeGreen?

In our labs, we use Rayneri and get very stable creams.  However, we have recently used a Silverson and found that you get an ever-better-quality emulsion.

What other textures can I achieve with CosmeGreen?

 CosmeGreen is a multi-functional ingredient that makes a wide variety of textures for haircare, skincare, suncare and makeup:

  • Homogenous solids without the cracking effect
  • White, shiny creamy emulsions
  • Vegan lip balms and sticks
  • Clear, thick gels