Key Takeaways from IESD 2026: Green & Sustainable Surfactants, High-Efficiency Detergency, and Technological Innovation Take Center Stage

The global surfactant and detergent industry gathered in Shanghai from April 27–29, 2026, for the International Exhibition on Surfactant and Detergent (IESD 2026) . Now in its 17th edition, IESD has grown into China’s only professional exhibition dedicated to the surfactant and detergent sector—and a critical barometer for industry trends worldwide .

This year’s event, co-located with the 3rd Shanghai International Surfactant Forum, welcomed 8,041 professional visitors from 53 countries and regions, featuring over 450 innovation showcases across 12,000 square meters of exhibition space . The core themes? Green & sustainable surfactants, high-efficiency detergency, and technological innovation.

Here are the key takeaways from IESD 2026 that every industry professional needs to know.

1. Green & Sustainable Surfactants: The New Industry Standard
Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a competitive necessity. IESD 2026 made this abundantly clear, with the exhibition closely following the three major industry trends of "green & environmental protection, technological innovation, and sustainable development".

Biosurfactants Took Center Stage
One of the standout highlights was Shandong Aikang Biotechnology’s sophorolipids biosurfactant . This 100% biodegradable, non-toxic biosurfactant offers the full range of conventional surfactant properties—solubilization, emulsification, wetting, foaming, and dispersion—while being temperature-resistant, salt-tolerant, and effective across a wide pH range .

What makes this particularly significant is that Aikang has successfully overcome technical bottlenecks in biosurfactant production, achieving high-purity manufacturing with independent intellectual property . This represents a major leap from large-scale production to refined, high-value applications—precisely what the market is demanding.

New Green Surfactants on Display
The exhibition also showcased a wide range of novel green surfactants, including:

• Amino acid surfactants
• Fatty acid methyl ester ethoxylates (FMEE)
• Fatty acid methyl ester sulfonates (MES)
• Alkyl polyglycosides (APG)
• Monoethanolamide succinates 

These products are increasingly favored by formulators seeking biodegradable, low-irritation, and renewable alternatives to traditional petrochemical-based surfactants .

Regulatory and Consumer Drivers
With tightening environmental regulations and growing consumer demand for mild, biodegradable products, the shift toward sustainable chemistry is accelerating . As one exhibitor noted, the industry is seeing “increasing consumer demand for mild, biodegradable products” —a trend that will only intensify as global sustainability standards evolve .

2. High-Efficiency Detergency: Performance Meets Sustainability
The second major takeaway from IESD 2026 is that high-performance cleaning and environmental responsibility are no longer mutually exclusive. The industry has moved beyond the false trade-off between efficacy and sustainability.

Balancing Performance with Environmental Protection
Exhibitors consistently demonstrated products that combine excellent cleaning efficiency with green and environmentally friendly characteristics . This reflects the global market’s urgent demand for sustainable chemicals that don’t compromise on performance.

Targeted Applications Across Industries
The exhibition covered 19 application industries, including daily chemicals, textiles, petroleum refining, agrochemicals, coatings, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and environmental remediation . This breadth demonstrates how high-efficiency surfactants are enabling performance breakthroughs across diverse sectors.

Semiconductor and Precision Cleaning
One particularly noteworthy example came from Changzhou Jiayuan Chemical, which showcased its hydrofluoroether (HFE449) solvent for semiconductor cleaning . With its low viscosity and low surface tension, this product achieves efficient, residue-free cleaning—perfectly meeting the stringent cleanliness requirements of semiconductor manufacturing .

Low-Foam, High-Efficiency Formulations
The exhibition also highlighted innovations in low-foam, high-efficiency formulations. Specialty polyether series designed for laundry pods and precision cleaning attracted significant attention, with multiple customers expressing procurement interest on-site .

3. Technological Innovation: Driving the Industry Forward
The third pillar of IESD 2026 was technological innovation—the engine powering both green chemistry and high-performance formulations.

From Lab to Market
The exhibition served as a critical platform for bridging scientific research with commercial application. With 450+ innovation成果 showcased, the event demonstrated how R&D breakthroughs are translating into market-ready products .

Cross-Sector Collaboration
A key theme was the cross-sectoral application of surfactants in daily chemicals, textiles, petroleum, agrochemicals, coatings, pharmaceuticals, and electronics . This interconnected approach is guiding the industry toward higher efficiency, environmental compatibility, and green growth.

Fluorochemical-Surfactant Synergies
The dedicated Fluorochemical Zone at IESD 2026 fostered integrated industry-academia-research collaboration . Companies like Changzhou Jiayuan demonstrated how fluorinated functional chemicals can help upgrade the surfactant industry toward high-end, specialized, and eco-friendly solutions.

Innovation in Formulation Technology
The exhibition focused on innovative formulation technologies as a core theme . From cellulose ethers and functional additives to surfactant synergists and modifiers, exhibitors showcased products designed to enhance foam stability, detergency, and mildness while maintaining low-irritation and environmentally friendly profiles .

Global R&D and Manufacturing Capabilities
Sichuan Jinfeng New Materials, for example, used the platform to demonstrate the depth of R&D and manufacturing capabilities inherent in Chinese fine chemical products . The company’s novel eco-friendly surfactants—distinguished by excellent biodegradability, stable physicochemical properties, and high cost-effectiveness—attracted professional buying delegations from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe .

Industry Outlook: What’s Next?
With the global surfactant market projected to reach US$53.57 billion by 2030, the demand for specialty chemicals and green raw materials is surging . IESD 2026 made it clear that the industry’s future lies in three interconnected directions:

• Green & sustainable surfactants will continue to displace traditional petrochemical-based products, driven by regulatory pressure and consumer preference.
• High-efficiency detergency will remain a core competitive differentiator, with innovation focused on balancing performance with environmental responsibility.
• Technological innovation—from biosurfactant production to advanced formulation technologies—will be the engine of industry growth.

As the IESD 2026 core theme emphasized: "Green Low Carbon, Efficient Function, and Full Chain Collaboration". The companies that embrace these principles—investing in sustainable chemistry, performance innovation, and cross-sector collaboration—will be best positioned to lead the market in the years ahead.

Planning to attend IESD 2027? Start preparing now. The trends on display in Shanghai made one thing crystal clear: the future of surfactants and detergents is green, efficient, and innovative.