News Details
News Details
Technological innovation is the core driving force for the green upgrade of 70% of the SLES industry
May 26,2026
Technological innovation is the core driving force for the green upgrade of 70% of the SLES industry. In 2026, the technological breakthroughs in the industry will focus on three major directions: green raw materials, efficient processes, and milder products.
Technological innovation is the core driving force for the green upgrade of 70% of the SLES industry. In 2026, the technological breakthroughs in the industry will focus on three major directions: green raw materials, efficient processes, and milder products. In terms of the greening of raw materials, leading enterprises are accelerating the substitution of petroleum-based raw materials. They use bio-based raw materials such as natural palm kernel oil and coconut oil derivatives to produce 70% SLES. The biodegradation rate of the products is over 98%, and they do not contain harmful substances such as dioxane and free formaldehyde, meeting the EU ECO certification and the US FDA standards. In terms of process efficiency, new ethoxylation and sulfonation technologies have been gradually applied. The reaction yield has increased from 85% of the traditional process to over 95%, and the unit energy consumption has decreased by 20% to 30%. At the same time, the discharge of wastewater and waste gas has been reduced, with significant environmental benefits. In terms of product milification, through molecular structure modification and optimization of compounding technology, a 70% SLES product with a low-irritation and tear-free formula has been developed. Its irritation is only one-third of that of traditional products and can be directly used for cleaning sensitive areas such as the eyes and lips.
The main pain points faced by the industry's development include price fluctuations, overcapacity at the low end, high-end technological barriers, and environmental protection pressure, etc. In terms of price, the price of 70% SLES is significantly influenced by the prices of upstream fatty alcohols and ethylene oxide. By 2025, the price fluctuation range of fatty alcohols will reach 20%, resulting in a price fluctuation range of 15% for 70% SLES throughout the year, which is insufficient for the stability of corporate profits. In terms of production capacity, 70% of domestic SLES production capacity is in excess. Small and medium-sized enterprises are concentrated in the mid-to-low-end market, mainly engaging in low-price competition. The product quality varies greatly, and the market competition is fierce. The gross profit margin is generally below 15%. In terms of technology, the core technologies of high-end mild and bio-based 70% SLES are still held by a few foreign-funded enterprises. There is a gap between the quality and stability of domestic enterprises' products and those of foreign brands, and their market share in the high-end market is less than 20%. In terms of environmental protection, the production process of SLES generates wastewater containing sulfates and organic waste gas. With the improvement of national environmental protection standards, the cost of environmental governance for enterprises has been continuously rising, and small and medium-sized enterprises that fail to meet environmental protection standards are facing the risk of elimination.
Next page
Next page
Whatsapp / Phone
Address
Binhai New Area, Tianjin, China
