Belgian Biotech AmphiStar Teams Up With Kensing To Expand In The US Market

AmphiStar makes biosurfactants from agricultural food waste using microbial fermentation. Kensing, known for its plant-based ingredients and specialty surfactants, will help scale and distribute the products.

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Together, they plan to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional surfactants, which are often made from petroleum or palm oil. This partnership aims to lower environmental impact and support a circular economy in the personal care industry.

“Kensing’s scientific expertise in formulation and production of plant-based ingredients, coupled with our novel biomanufacturing technology platform makes this an ideal and complementary partnership that will not only help us bring our sustainable biosurfactants to the North American market, but also see us jointly develop and launch new ones in the future,” said Pierre-Franck Valentin, CEO of AmphiStar.

As part of the deal, Kensing will have exclusive rights to sell AmphiStar’s biosurfactants in North America.

The two companies also plan to set up local supply chains and start producing the biosurfactants in the US. They aim to use regional raw materials, including byproducts from Kensing’s own facilities. This approach could lower transport emissions and support a more local, sustainable way of making personal and home care products.

“This partnership with AmphiStar reflects Kensing’s bold commitment to leapfrog into the next generation of biosurfactants,” said Serge Rogasik, President and CEO of Kensing. “By combining AmphiStar’s cutting-edge upcycled biosurfactant technology with Kensing’s industrial scale and market reach, we are unlocking a new era of high-performance biosurfactants - formulated from upcycled biowaste, free from conventional feedstock constraints, and offering both formulation versatility and the potential for highly competitive economics at scale.”

This partnership comes at a time when the cosmetics and personal care industries are pushing for more eco-friendly ingredients. Many consumers and product makers are moving away from fossil-based and palm oil-derived surfactants due to environmental concerns like deforestation, carbon emissions, and biodiversity loss. But finding large-scale, sustainable alternatives has been difficult.

Beyond selling current products, AmphiStar and Kensing plan to co-develop a range of 80 custom biosurfactants. These “designer” molecules can be used in everything from shampoos and lotions to agricultural products and industrial cleaners, helping both companies grow in several high-value markets.

Kensing, which became independent from BASF in 2021, has quickly built a strong reputation in the plant-based ingredient space. It has received top sustainability ratings, including EcoVadis Gold and a CDP A- score. Partnering with AmphiStar supports Kensing’s goal of expanding into advanced biochemicals.

AmphiStar is also scaling up its production platform in Europe and beyond. Its fermentation technology is unique because it doesn’t rely on fossil fuels or virgin crops and allows for continuous, low-cost production.

With the global biosurfactant market expected to top $3 billion by 2030, driven by demand in personal care, cleaning, and agriculture, the shift toward greener surfactants is gaining momentum—especially as regulations and corporate sustainability goals push the industry in that direction.

About AmphiStar

Founded in 2021, AmphiStar is a Belgian biotech company making sustainable biosurfactants from biobased waste and side streams. Their products are used in home care, personal care, industrial cleaning, and more. By using industrial biotechnology and local renewable materials, AmphiStar creates high-performance, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional surfactants.