Spain’s Cepsa Chemicals has just launched a new blockchain-based system that will enable it to track the palm and coconut oil it uses as raw material all to the way to use in its production of biodegradable surfactants. The company had launched NextLAB, the world's first sustainable linear alkylbenzene (LAB), earlier this year.

According to a lifecycle assessment carried out by an independent consultant and verified by a panel of three that was presented at the CESIO World Surfactant Congress in Rome on 5-7 June, the carbon footprint of Cepsa Química’s NextLab facility is 80% lower than that of a traditional linear alkyl benzene (LAB) facility. Greenhouse gas savings are put at 1,320 kg CO₂/tonne of LAB produced.

Spanish energy giant Cepsa has decided to retain its Chemicals division, Cepsa Química, after completing a strategic review of options. Following an announcement in November 2021 that Cepsa Química would have greater operational autonomy, the division is now “delivering strong operational and financial performance”, the company said.

Cepsa Química has introduced the first products in its new line of sustainable chemicals. Both are derived from biomass and contain at least 68% sustainable or alternative carbon sources using the mass balance approach, with equivalent performance to existing products based on fossil sources.

These are NextLAB, which is a fossil-free linear alkylbenzene (LAB) for use in the production of biodegradable household laundry and cleaning products; and NextPhenol, which will replace phenol in automotive, construction and pharmaceutical applications.