Market and product

Compiled by Bao Hien

Enzymes designed by artificial intelligence are being used for the first time in a mass-market laundry liquid. At the same time, China has begun drafting a standard method to verify how much of a detergent comes from biological sources.

One enzyme, three functions

In early November, a multinational consumer goods group said it would soon launch a new laundry liquid for washing machines in India containing an enzyme designed with artificial intelligence (AI). The group developed the enzyme with a US protein design company, and the enzyme has been patented.

According to the manufacturer, this is the first time the group has used an AI-designed enzyme at commercial scale in its home care business. What is new is that a single enzyme removes stains, protects fabric fibres and helps fragrance last longer. Until now, a laundry liquid needed two separate enzymes plus a fragrance technology to deliver these three benefits.

Enzymes in detergents are catalytic proteins that break down stains such as proteins, starch and fats. The manufacturer said AI allows enzymes to be developed “tens, often hundreds of times faster” than conventional methods.

Early consumer tests produced the brand’s best results in five years. However, the company has not released specific figures, nor has it stated the recommended washing temperature or dosage.

The product targets growing demand in India. In a Q4 2025 survey cited by the company, more than 90% of Indian consumers said they wanted a laundry liquid that both cleans thoroughly and keeps fragrance longer. Washing machine ownership among Indian households rose from 16% in 2018 to about 29% in 2025 and is expected to exceed 37% by 2030.

Measuring bio-based content with carbon-14

On 30 October, China launched national standard project No. 20265475-T-607. The standard will set out a method for determining the bio-based content of surfactants and detergents using liquid scintillation counting.

The method measures the isotope carbon-14. Carbon from plants contains carbon-14, while carbon from petroleum contains almost none, because the isotope has decayed over millions of years. The carbon-14 ratio shows how much of the carbon in a product comes from renewable raw materials. The standard will take 15 months to develop and is currently at the drafting stage.

Rising demand for surfactants

Surfactants are the main ingredient in detergents, and demand for them is rising. A major US surfactant manufacturer reported Q3 2026 net sales of USD 486.6 million in this segment, up 15% year on year.

Selling prices rose 10%, mainly because the company passed higher raw material costs on to customers. Sales volume grew 3%, or 8% on an organic basis, which excludes factors such as acquisitions. Operating income rose 75% to USD 27.4 million. Demand grew in consumer products, construction and industrial applications, and oil and gas, while demand from agriculture fell.