Moeve and Honeywell Enhance Renewable LAB Partnership

25 November 2025

Key highlights

Moeve and Honeywell expand collaboration to scale bio-based LAB production.
NextLab-R is the first industrial-scale LAB using renewable materials.
Honeywell UOP's licensing platform will distribute the technology.
Over 70% of global biodegradable detergent production uses Honeywell UOP processes.

Collaboration Expansion

Moeve and Honeywell have announced an expanded collaboration to enhance the production of bio-based Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB). This raw material is crucial for making Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS), a primary surfactant in household detergents.

NextLab-R Technology

Moeve's NextLab-R technology, the first to produce LAB at an industrial scale using renewable raw materials, will be available through Honeywell's licensing platform. This offers detergent manufacturers a sustainable raw material solution.

Joint Process Development

The agreement includes joint process development and adds renewable LAB to Honeywell UOP’s licensing portfolio, highlighting both companies' commitment to innovation and sustainability for LAB producers globally.

Historical Context

Honeywell pioneered LAB process licensing in the 1960s, contributing to environmentally responsible detergent technologies. For over three decades, Moeve and Honeywell have collaborated on energy-efficient LAB production technologies, including the Detal-Plus™ process with Honeywell UOP’s proprietary catalysts.

Industry Impact

Currently, more than 70% of global biodegradable detergent production relies on LAB made using Honeywell UOP process technologies, making the shift to renewable alternatives like NextLab-R both timely and essential.

Source: Moeve