Surfactants are substances that are often used in detergents since they enhance the cleaning properties of a product. The molecules of surfactants are made up of two parts: one binds itself with the greasy substances (dirt) and the other one with water (promoting deep cleansing through rinsing). The characteristics of a surfactant are therefore to emulsify, mix the liquids together, cleanse, become “foamy”; binding itself to the dirt promotes its complete removal.

Regulation 648/2004/EC provides the technical criteria to unify legislations of the various member states regarding placing of detergents and surfactants for detergents on the market, making it clear that a detergent is defined as any substance or preparation containing soaps and/or other surfactants intended for washing and cleaning.
Therefore, one must keep in mind that products classified as detergents placed on the market must first and foremost comply with regulation 648/2004/EC, which also regulates the biodegradability of all surfactants (both chemical and plant based) and the resulting prohibitions or restrictions that may be imposed by their issue on the market. The regulation requires two types of biodegradability:

• PRIMARY BIODEGRADABILITY is considered satisfactory if the level of biodegradability is at a minimum level of 80%.
• COMPLETE BIODEGRADABILITY** is considered satisfactory if the level of biodegradability (mineralisation) is at least 60% within a period of 28 days.

Fra-Ber has worked long and hard to develop products with completely biodegradable surfactants**according to regulation 648/2004/EC.

Most industrial products on the market containing surfactants are petrochemical products. They are thereby derived from refined petrol: this means they are substances with a high environmental impact, both with regard to extraction and refining.
However, an ever-increasing portion of the market today uses plant-based surfactants, which thereby contain a biological base but do not lose their cleaning properties. For example, surfactants obtained from coconut, olive oil, sugar, chicory and wheat are ideal. Besides being natural products, they are biodegradable and therefore have a very low impact on the ecosystems.
After extensive work, Fra-Ber has chosen to consider biological plant-based surfactants for the Evoenzymes line, providing additional help towards respecting the environment and mankind.