NoPalm Ingredients & Colgate-Palmolive partner for fermentation-based oil soap bars
Last update on Apr 15, 2025
NoPalm Ingredients has announced a new partnership with Colgate-Palmolive. Together, they are bringing the next generation of sustainable soap bars to life, incorporating their fermentation-based oil from upcycled agrifood side streams into Colgate-Palmolive's product formulations. This multi-year collaboration marks a major step in scaling the use of oil alternatives in mainstream personal care products.
From pilot to pre-industrial production
The partnership follows a successful pilot project launched in 2023 as part of the 100+ Accelerator, a global program that supports startups advancing sustainability.
During the pilot, Colgate-Palmolive and NoPalm Ingredients co-developed the first soap bars with their fermentation-based oil, a high-quality, circular ingredient produced by fermenting upcycled side streams. This oil delivers excellent stability, texture, and fragrance compatibility, along with a significantly lower environmental footprint.
"While Colgate-Palmolive remains a strong advocate for responsibly sourced palm oil, we recognize the need for additional innovative solutions to meet future demands. Demonstrating innovations like NoPalm Ingredients' oil at an industrial scale brings us one step closer to delivering on our no deforestation and responsible sourcing commitments," said Ebru Calero, Sr. director, Sustainable Sourcing & Innovation, Colgate-Palmolive.
The partnership is now entering its next phase: demonstrating NoPalm Ingredients' fermentation-derived oil at a pre-industrial scale. Larger volumes will be trialed on Colgate-Palmolive's production lines to evaluate key performance metrics: stability, sensory attributes and overall performance.
This milestone aims to confirm that their oil matches or surpasses the performance of conventional oils used in personal care, paving the way for commercial scale-up and broader adoption.
By advancing to pre-industrial testing, this collaboration accelerates the shift toward more sustainable, land-efficient ingredients, setting the stage for future large-scale use.
Fermentation meets the circular economy
Their oil is produced through a circular process: They feed yeast with upcycled agrifood side streams, avoiding the environmental downsides of traditional oil-producing crops.
This approach delivers clear sustainability benefits:
- 90% lower CO₂ emissions
- 99% less land use compared to palm oil
'Partnering with a globally recognized leader like Colgate-Palmolive is a testament to the commercial potential and credibility of NoPalm Ingredients' innovative solutions. This collaboration marks a significant step toward scaling sustainable oil alternatives for mainstream adoption,' said Lars Langhout, CEO, NoPalm Ingredients.
This partnership demonstrates that environmental responsibility and high product performance can go hand in hand, setting a new benchmark for sustainable innovation in personal care.
Source
NoPalm Ingredients