Bio-based vs synthetic ingredients: performance myths explained

A discussion that requires nuance. Bio-based ingredients are increasingly part of the conversation around future detergent formulations. At the same time, their role is often debated.

On one side, they are seen as a necessary step toward more sustainable products that are based on renewable raw materials with theoretically lower carbon footprint. On the other, there are concerns around cost, availability, performance, competition with food production, and even product appearance.

These concerns are not unfounded. They reflect real challenges faced by formulation teams. At the same time, they highlight something important: The effectiveness of bio-based ingredients depends less on the category itself, and more on how they are applied in real formulations. There’s also the fact that bio-based doesn’t necessarily translate to sustainable.

Much of the discussion centres around a set of recurring concerns. Understanding these is key to moving from debate to practical application.

Concern 1:
Bio-based ingredients come at a higher cost

One of the most common concerns around bio-based ingredients is cost.

In many cases, the concern is justified. Bio-based feedstocks are often more expensive than fossil-based alternatives, partly because they rely on agricultural raw materials and production processes that have not yet achieved the same scale and efficiency as established petrochemical value chains.

At the same time, not all bio-based materials are created equal.

Feedstocks derived from industrial side streams or existing production processes can offer different cost structures, supply characteristics, and sustainability profiles than those based on primary agricultural resources.

For formulation teams, key questions in addition to whether an ingredient is bio-based is whether it can deliver the right balance of:

• Performance
• Supply security
• Sustainability benefits
• Commercial viability

As the industry evolves, the most promising solutions are likely to be those that combine renewable carbon sources with scalable feedstocks and efficient production routes.

Concern 2:
Availability limits scalability

Availability is another frequently raised concern.

Compared to fossil-based materials, many bio-based ingredients are still produced at relatively limited scale. In some cases, suitable feedstocks are constrained by availability and competing demand from other industries.

Scalability can also be influenced by production capacity. Many promising bio-based technologies are still in the process of moving from pilot projects to larger commercial operations, requiring significant investment and long-term market confidence.

This means that availability is not only a question of feedstock supply, but also of industrial readiness.

At the same time, not all bio-based materials face the same challenges. Feedstocks derived from established industrial processes and existing value chains can offer greater supply security and scalability than those relying on entirely new production systems.

As the industry evolves, the discussion is therefore shifting from "bio-based versus synthetic" to which solutions can scale reliably while meeting performance and sustainability expectations.

Concern 3:
Performance is difficult to match

Performance remains the most critical factor.

Bio-based alternatives have historically struggled to match the robustness of established petrochemical systems.
Performance may be more sensitive to:

• Temperature
• pH conditions
• Interaction with other formulation components
• Presence of organic matter

Stability and shelf life can also be affected.

These are practical challenges with direct impact on product quality.

At the same time, performance cannot be viewed in isolation. Detergent performance emerges from the interaction of many ingredients within the formulation. Over decades, formulation systems have been optimized around fossil-based ingredients and their specific performance characteristics.

Seen from that perspective, it is perhaps not surprising that some bio-based alternatives do not deliver the expected results when simply introduced into formulations that were originally designed for a different chemistry.

Successfully integrating bio-based ingredients therefore often requires a broader formulation perspective. Rather than evaluating a single ingredient in isolation, the focus should be on how the entire system performs together.

When performance drops, sustainability gains can be lost

Lower-performing detergents do not just affect cleaning results. They can also influence how products are used.
If performance is perceived to be insufficient, users may:

• Increase dosage
• Wash at higher temperatures
• Repeat wash cycles

These behaviours can reduce or even eliminate the intended environmental benefits.

This is particularly important because the use phase represents the largest share of the environmental footprint of detergents, mainly due to the energy required to heat water.

This leads to a clear conclusion:
Sustainability improvements in detergents are only effective when performance is maintained or improved.

Concern 4:
Bio-based does not always mean lower impact

It is often assumed that bio-based ingredients automatically result in a lower environmental footprint. In reality, the picture is more complex. Bio-based materials can offer advantages in terms of renewable sourcing, but may also involve trade-offs such as:

• Land use
• Water consumption
• Biodiversity impacts
• Eutrophication potential

In addition, consistent comparison is difficult due to:

• Limited availability of harmonised Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) or Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data
• Variations in methodology
• Differences in system boundaries

This highlights the importance of verified and transparent data when making sustainability claims.

Concern 5:
Colour affects product perception

A more practical concern that often arises is colour.

Certain bio-based materials, such as lignin, naturally have a brown appearance. This can raise questions around how the final detergent product will look, and whether it will be accepted by the market.

This concern is understandable, particularly for products where visual appearance has traditionally been associated with cleanliness or performance. At the same time, there are indications that expectations are evolving:

• Consumers are becoming more familiar with products that signal natural or sustainable origins
• In several product categories, visual cues such as colour variation are increasingly associated with authenticity rather than reduced quality
• Functionality and trust in performance remain the dominant drivers of user satisfaction
• Colour does not determine performance. In fact, colourants themselves are often added purely for visual reasons.

In practice, this means that colour can be managed through formulation and branding, and does not in itself determine whether a product will succeed.

For formulation teams, it becomes another factor to consider, and not a barrier in itself.

Read more: Why colour doesn’t clean: A more sustainable future looks natural

Summary:
The question is no longer whether bio-based has a role to play

Taken together, these concerns show that the discussion is moving beyond a simple comparison between fossil-based and bio-based ingredients.

The pressure to reduce reliance on fossil resources is growing, driven by regulatory developments, sustainability ambitions, and changing market expectations. As a result, the question is increasingly becoming not whether bio-based ingredients should play a role, but which solutions are best positioned to do so. For formulation teams, success depends on finding solutions that can combine:

• Reliable cleaning performance
• Scalability and supply security
• Documented sustainability benefits
• Commercial viability

Not all bio-based ingredients are equally equipped to meet these requirements.

Differences in feedstock origin, production processes, functionality, and availability can have a significant impact on both performance and sustainability outcomes.

As the industry evolves, the focus is therefore shifting from simply increasing bio-based content to identifying bio-based solutions that can deliver value across the entire formulation system.

A more practical way to evaluate alternatives

Rather than treating bio-based ingredients as a category, it is more useful to evaluate them based on how they perform within a formulation system. Relevant questions include:

• Does the ingredient support performance under realistic conditions?
• Does it contribute to system stability?
• Can it simplify the formulation through multifunctionality?
• Is supply reliable at scale?
• Can its sustainability profile be clearly documented?

This provides a more actionable basis for decision-making.

What can we learn from lignin-based ingredients?

Many of the concerns discussed in this article stem from a simple assumption: that improving sustainability inevitably means accepting compromises in cost, scalability, or performance. Yet not all bio-based ingredients are built on the same foundations.

Lignin-based ingredients illustrate this well. Unlike many bio-based materials derived from primary agricultural feedstocks, lignin originates from an existing industrial value chain and is available as a renewable side stream from the forest industry. This provides a different starting point when addressing some of the industry's most common concerns.

For example, lignin-based ingredients can help demonstrate that:

• Renewable carbon does not necessarily require dedicated agricultural feedstocks
• Bio-based solutions can be derived from established industrial processes
• Scalability depends on feedstock and value chain design, not only on chemistry
• Sustainability benefits and functional performance do not have to be opposing objectives

Ultimately, the success of a bio-based ingredient is determined by the value it creates within the formulation. The focus should therefore not be on replacing fossil-based ingredients for the sake of replacement, but on selecting solutions that contribute to performance, sustainability, and long-term viability.

This is where the conversation is increasingly heading: away from material categories and towards practical formulation outcomes.

From debate to implementation

The conversation around bio-based ingredients is evolving. The question is no longer simply whether they should be used, but how they can be applied effectively within practical constraints. Successful formulations will balance:

• Performance in use
• Environmental impact across the lifecycle
• Cost and availability
• Regulatory and documentation requirements

Next step:
A useful starting point

For many manufacturers, the first step is understanding how their current formulation performs across these dimensions.

• Are performance and sustainability aligned?
• Are claims supported by clear and verified data?
• Is raw material sourcing transparent throughout the value chain?
• Is the formulation prepared for future regulatory requirements?

To support this process, Borregaard has developed a Regulatory Readiness Assessment for detergent formulations.

👉 Take the assessment to evaluate your current setup and identify practical next steps.