Future Origins Partners with Kao to Reinvent Sustainable Ingredient Sourcing

Future Origins and Kao Join Forces on Sustainable Ingredients

In a groundbreaking move towards sustainability in the cosmetics and personal care industries, Future Origins, a U.S.-based joint venture, has announced a multi-year purchase agreement with Kao Corporation for its innovative product, NALO™. This partnership represents a significant advancement in the sourcing of ingredients while ensuring resilience in the supply chain, particularly for Kao’s home and personal care markets.

Founded by industry leaders including Unilever, Kao, and L'Oréal, Future Origins aims to promote the use of sustainable alternatives to critical ingredients traditionally derived from palm oil. The agreement struck between the two companies marks the largest of its kind for Future Origins, highlighting an increasing global demand for high-performance and sustainable ingredients in the formulation of surfactants utilized across various applications, such as detergents, soaps, and cosmetics.

John Gugel, CEO of Future Origins, emphasized the necessity for companies worldwide to seek ingredients sourced from resilient and traceable supply chains. He stated, "As a global producer of surfactants, Kao has maintained rigorous standards for product quality and sustainability, especially concerning bioalcohols." This reflects a growing awareness among consumers and manufacturers alike regarding the importance of environmental impact and sustainable practices.

NALO™ emerges as the first high-performing, drop-in replacement for fatty alcohols commonly produced from palm oil, marking a shift towards more responsible sourcing. Future Origins plans to manufacture NALO at an industrial scale within the United States. The company has already launched an early access program for NALO, providing pre-commercial samples for testing in anticipation of fulfilling the anticipated demand from Kao and broader markets. Most notably, this agreement ensures a significant offtake commitment, securing the majority of the output from Future Origins' first manufacturing plant.

Kao Corporation is on a steadfast journey towards sustainable material sourcing, aligning with its Mid-Term Plan 2027, which emphasizes the philosophy that "Sustainability is the Only Path." The collaboration with Future Origins not only aims to introduce NALO but also its derivatives into the market, catering to the rising demand for sustainable materials essential for maintaining quality of life while also protecting palm tree forests and conserving the environmental landscape.

Daisuke Hamada, Senior Executive Officer at Kao, articulated the importance of this development, stating, "This collaboration is crucial not only for delivering materials that enhance our quality of life but also for fostering the preservation of vital ecosystems." As Kao works towards incorporating these materials into consumer products, the partnership further reinforces its commitment to establishing transparent and traceable supply chains.

Future Origins has been diligently working towards meeting critical product development benchmarks, including the completion of a demonstration-scale fermentation program. By the second quarter of 2025, several tons of purified NALO product will be available for sampling, ready to enter commercial markets. Dr. Priti Pharkya, Senior Vice President of Business Operations at Future Origins, expressed optimism about fulfilling market needs with this low-carbon and deforestation-free material.

The establishment of this partnership and the upcoming launch of NALO are significant steps for Future Origins in its mission to redefine industry standards regarding sustainability. The upcoming commercial-scale manufacturing plant is under consideration for sites in the U.S. Midwest, where the company can effectively source the necessary feedstocks.

In summary, this landmark agreement between Future Origins and Kao heralds a new era in sustainable sourcing, where ingredient quality and environmental responsibility coexist. As the industry continues to evolve, such collaborations will pave the way for a more sustainable future in personal care and cleaning product formulations. For more information regarding this innovative venture, visit Future Origins’ official website at www.futureorigins.com.