Natura-Aeropack, a subsidiary of Chemrez Technologies, enjoyed an excellent 2022. Natura-Aeropack’s primary feedstock is coconut oil, enabling it to avoid many of the gyrations that plagued the petroleum market last year. Being based in the Philippines, plays to the company’s competitive advantage, explained Jun Lao of Chemrez.

“Coconut oil is a sustainable feedstock that enables us to make natural and clean surfactants,” said Lao. “The Philippines is the ‘Saudi Arabia’ of coconut oil.”

Lao said coconut oil has been recognized as more sustainable than the other lauric oil, palm kernel. It does not carry the negative consumer-perception of burning rainforests and destruction of wildlife habitat that made way for oil-palm plantations. Furthermore, when the Ukraine crisis caused a vegetable oil shortage, coconut oil became the logical alternative. Coconut surfactants even cost less than those from palm, noted Lao.

“All these factors played to the strength of Natura-Aeropack. We saw our sales treble on record volume in 2022,” he added. 

At the recent Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) exhibit, Natura-Aeropack received a warm reception from manufacturers seeking a steady supply of coconut-derived oleochemicals.

“Every brand owner with sustainability goals was looking for palm-free and petroleum-free ingredients,” Lao recalled. “Our booth was extremely well-received because that is exactly what we offer.”

This year, Natura-Aeropack will inaugurate a new multimillion dollar oleochemical facility in Batangas, Philippines. This vertically integrated surfactant and food facility takes coconut oil and converts them to sustainable ingredients to make personal and home care products, all on the same site.

According to Lao, the new Natura-Aeropack facility was sustainability designed and built from the ground up. It’s small carbon footprint makes it an ideal link in the supply chain of any brand, concluded Lao.