What’s Happening in the World of Detergents? Battelle Knows.

Detergents and household cleaners are constantly evolving: From the rise of pods to the downfall of phosphates, it’s a dynamic and ever-changing market. How can raw material suppliers, formulators and brands stay on top of market trends? The Battelle World Detergent Program provides critical market insights based on detailed chemical analysis of products from around the globe.

We’ve been watching trends in detergent formulation since the 1980s. Over the last four decades, that adds up to one of the largest databases of detergent formulation data. Our World Detergent Program subscribers get access to the latest trends and insights from our analytical program—at a fraction of the cost of a custom study. Industry participants share the cost of a comprehensive, state-of-the-art analytical program focused on the detergent industry, with new insights delivered three times per year.

From the 1980's to Today: A History of the World Detergent Program

The Battelle World Detergent Program dates back to the mid-80s, when European countries started banning phosphates in laundry detergent in response to rising concerns about their environmental impact. Two surfactant producers approached Battelle for help in monitoring how these anticipated regulatory changes were impacting product formulations. By 1987, this initial project had evolved into a group of clients with a shared interest in detergent composition in Europe.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the project was operated out of the Battelle Geneva, Switzerland lab and focused primarily on the EU market. After the Geneva lab closed in 2009, the project moved to Massachusetts and continued a more international focus. Since then, the program has continued to grow to cover more regions, more product types and more analytes. Today, Battelle analyzes more than 260 products annually from all regions of the world. We’ve expanded our product range to include dishwashing detergents, bleaches, and household cleaning supplies. The analytical team is also continually engaged in method development as new analytes emerge, such as biosurfactants.

Some of the trends we have documented over the decades include:

• The removal of phosphate from both laundry and dishwasher detergents.
• A decline in laundry and automatic dishwasher detergent powders and a corresponding rise in liquids.
• The evolution of single-dose tablets and pods for both laundry and dishwashers, including newer multi-chamber pods.
• Increasingly concentrated detergent formulations and new formulations designed specifically for high-efficiency machines.
• New enzyme technologies for enhanced stain-fighting power and better performance at lower temperatures.
• The emergence of more sustainable plant-based and biodegradable ingredients.

As detergents and cleaners evolve in response to consumer demand, regulatory changes, and technological advances, Battelle will continue to monitor these trends—both globally and regionally. We are helping our clients stay on top of these changes so they can predict market needs, adjust production and marketing strategies, and understand how their products compare to the competition.

Want In? Here Are the Details.

The Battelle World Detergent Program is a subscription-based service that provides participants with access to comprehensive market data at an affordable and predictable cost. Subscribers benefit from cost-sharing with other participants, providing more information at a much lower price point compared to contracting for a stand-alone study. Subscribers can choose the full Global program or opt into one of our affordable tiers: Half Global, Quarter Global or Regional.

Battelle analyzes a large and growing list of products from around the world each year, informed by the needs of our subscribers. These products include:

• Laundry products (powders, tablets, liquids, capsules, hand washes, fabric softeners)
• Hand and automatic dishwashing products (liquids, pastes, gels, powders, tablets)
• Cleaning products (hard surface cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, bleaches, stain and odor removers, dry cleaning kits)

The program analyzes major and minor ingredients for detergents and cleaners and reconstructs their weight percentages. We provide detailed analytical data for surfactants, builders and fillers, bleaching systems, polymers, enzymes, complexing agents, phosphates, foam control agents, hydrotropes, and brighteners. Everything is analyzed using state-of-the-art methods and equipment at Battelle’s Norwell, Massachusetts, lab.

The Battelle World Detergent Program provides insight into current global and regional trends, allowing participants to see where new ingredients and formulations are emerging. It also includes longitudinal data so participants can see how things have changed over time. Subscribers get access to an online product database and can attend three meetings per year to hear directly from Battelle’s industry experts.

By subscribing to the Battelle World Detergent Program, participants can stay ahead of the competition and be the first to know about emerging global trends in detergents and cleaners.

Ready to get started? To learn more, download the brochure or contact us to discuss your options.