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Sunlight’s new RhamnoClean technology has fundamentally changed how we formulate our hand dishwashing liquid. Here, Global R&D Dishwash Director Judisha Naidoo explains the innovation and the range’s premium benefits.
Unilever scientists have spent years perfecting the formulation of Sunlight dishwashing liquid so that it delivers superior performance while using 100% plant-based renewable and biodegradable cleaning ingredients. The result is a patented technological breakthrough: RhamnoClean.
We spoke to Judisha Naidoo, Global R&D Dishwash Director, to understand what it is and why it’s so revolutionary.
Hand dishwash products have traditionally included surfactants – chemicals that create foam and lift grease and dirt. As there’s typically a high level of petrochemicals in surfactants, we wanted to find an alternative that could wash dishes as well as our best-performing products – while delivering additional benefits – but that’s made from renewable ingredients.
In 2017, in collaboration with Evonik, a global leader in biotechnology, we developed rhamnolipid – a 100% natural, biodegradable and renewable ‘biosurfactant’ that delivers outstanding performance.
We introduced rhamnolipid technology in Chile in 2019 in our Quix dishwashing liquid – the first time it had been used in a cleaning product anywhere in the world. We then ran further pilots in Vietnam in 2021, and Indonesia and Thailand last year. Following their success, we’re now launching RhamnoClean technology, powered by rhamnolipid, across our Sunlight hand dishwash premium range, Sunlight Plus.
To meet our needs, Evonik has built a state-of-the-art production facility at its factory in Slovenská Ľupča, Slovakia. It’s the world’s first industrial-scale plant creating rhamnolipids.
Through extensive research, we gained a deep understanding of the diverse needs of consumers, who look for increasingly differentiated products without compromising on performance. The key ingredient, rhamnolipid, caters for consumers who prioritise natural ingredients without wanting to sacrifice cleanliness.
RhamnoClean technology offers a superior performance across a range of benefits.
For consumers everywhere, safety is a priority. This is driven in part by a rapidly ageing population – projected to triple in the next decade in some key markets for Sunlight.
There’s a real concern about traces of chemical residue left on dishes after washing. So consumers are seeking products that are free from harsh chemicals. RhamnoClean’s ingredients make it safe even for babies’ dishes.
Another consumer need is that, even when dishes look clean, consumers worry about contamination through dirty sponges. Our Sunlight premium range is the only dishwashing product that delivers 24-hour protection against the return of harmful bacteria and a seven-day shield against the growth of fungi in sponges.
We also know that people don’t like that their hands get dry or itchy from washing dishes, especially those with sensitive skin. RhamnoClean’s formulation has passed stringent dermatological tests to be gentle on skin, so hands actually feel moisturised after use.
Our work on this technology is part of our Clean Future strategy, which enables us to deliver superior products that are great value and sustainable. We want to lead the transition to net zero in our industry through ingredients that are low carbon, more renewable and biodegradable.
This will help us progress towards our new science-based target to reduce absolute Scope 3 emissions by 42% by 2030, with reformulating products and chemical ingredients being two of the ten action areas set out in our updated Climate Transition Action Plan.
Sunlight BioCare Nature is the hero variant we’re launching across all markets. In addition, we’ve developed further variants available in different markets, dependent on local needs and trends.
So far, we’ve launched in Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand where premiumisation is the fastest-growing segment of the category, and Sunlight is leading the premium market.
We’re exploring new technologies that will help make our cleaning products superior and more sustainable. As part of this, we’ve extended our partnership with Econic Technologies: a start-up that’s pioneering a process to replace fossil-based raw materials with renewable carbon.
Working with partners, our India business is piloting the production of synthetic soda ash – a key ingredient in laundry powder – with a near-zero greenhouse gas footprint. If proved at scale, this innovation could help unlock faster emissions reductions in our supply chain.
At Climate Week NYC, the University of Oxford, in partnership with Unilever, has launched a new report identifying the policy interventions needed to address the carbon emissions of everyday cleaning, laundry and home care products.
We're always looking to connect with those who share an interest in a sustainable future.
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