Why Organic Solvents Are the Future (And the Present)
Organic, bio-based solvents are safer, more environmentally friendly, and substantially reduce the industry’s reliance on non-renewable resources. Solvents play a vital role in diverse industry applications. Their collective ubiquity makes them both incredibly useful and a potential strain on the environment.
Over the past decade, suppliers have made tremendous progress in engineering natural solvents.
What Solvents Are Made from Natural Sources?
Manufacturers are creating natural solvents from fruits, vegetables, grains, and other naturally occurring compounds.
For example:
- Terpenes – Derived from many plants, terpenes are used in paints, varnishes, personal care products, and flavor and fragrance applications.
- D-Limonene – Citrus-based d-Limonene is a citrus extract used extensively across industries. D-limonene is a Florachem staple and tops the list of green solvents in terms of safety and versatility.
- Ethanol – Derived from fermented grains or sugarcane, ethanol is used in cosmetics, cleaning products, and food flavorings.
- Alcohols – Several alcohols, including isopropyl, are made from corn and other starches and used in a variety of applications.
- Methyl acetate – Found in both fruits and vegetables, methyl acetate is a natural alternative to harsh chemical solvents in paints and adhesives.
Other natural solvent examples include pine oil, soybean-based oils, and citrus ingredients.
Natural, Organic, Sustainable – and Marketable
For consumer products, sentiment continues to shift toward a strong preference for natural and organic ingredients in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, residential and commercial cleaning products, food, and textiles.
Organic cosmetics, for example, hit a market value of $21.5 billion in the US alone in 2022.
More than ever, consumers expect manufacturers to reduce their environmental impact and provide them with products that are safer, healthier, and more sustainable.
Sustainability, in short, means marketability, and the demand for green, organic solvents is only growing. More than 60% of consumers say they prefer to purchase environmentally friendly products and support brands that make them.
So, it’s not surprising, then, that many manufacturers are scrambling to source and integrate bio-based solvents alongside other responsibly sourced inputs.
The Benefits of Adopting Organic or Natural Solvents Today
Switching to natural solvents offers industrial and commercial end users immediate health and safety improvements, as well as sustainability benefits. For example, natural solvents are made from renewable feedstocks that are:
- Biodegradable
- Non-carcinogenic
- FDA-approved for food use
- Free of ozone-depleting chemicals
Put Sustainability First with Florachem
As a globally recognized leader in organic solvents, rosins, resins, and oils, Florachem provides the best natural solvents for various end-use applications, with deep industry experience to craft unique formulations.
Making the move to responsibly sourced solvents? Get in touch or call 904-567-8080 today to get started!