Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 5th March 2026 Issue no. 1200

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Viridi and Zschimmer & Schwarz collaborate on CO2-based surfactants

Zschimmer & Schwarz, a global supplier of chemical specialities and auxiliaries, and Viridi, a deep-tech start-up focused on carbon dioxide utilisation, have entered into a Joint Development Agreement to accelerate the scale-up and market adoption of Viridi's proprietary technology for the production of sustainable surfactants, used for example in the formulation of cleaning agents.

Viridi's technology facilitates the use of captured carbon dioxide as a renewable carbon source in chemical manufacturing. Following extensive trials conducted by Zschimmer & Schwarz, multiple potential applications and use cases were identified. By further adopting the Viridi technology, Zschimmer & Schwarz aims to enhance both product sustainability and production efficiency.

"This agreement represents a big milestone in our mission to help the chemical manufacturing industry – and, ultimately, society, to recycle CO2 and eventually defossilise," says Dr Daniel Stewart, CEO of Viridi. “We are delighted to share this journey with Zschimmer & Schwarz, a company with such a pioneering mindset.”

Dr Matthias Hofmann, director of Global R&D of Zschimmer & Schwarz, adds: "Our partnership with Viridi, a highly innovative start-up, strengthens our commitment to provide sustainable and biodegradable solutions for the future. We are excited to jointly explore opportunities for the next generation of surfactants."

Headquartered near Koblenz, Germany, Zschimmer & Schwarz comprises 27 companies in 16 countries on five continents.

www.zschimmer-schwarz.com | www.viriditech.com

19th February 2026