ABSTRACT
The detergent industry has continuously changed in recent years in response to shifts in consumer preferences, the request for sustainability, the availability and cost of raw materials and energy, and demographic and social trends as well as the world’s overall socioeconomic and political situations. Currently, detergent formulation design and product applications are examined against the unifying focus of delivering to the consumer performance and value given the constraints of the economy, technological advancements, and environmental imperatives. Yet the persistent annual growth of the detergent industry refl ects impressive developments in formulation and application. This growth is expected to continue in the near future in response to the ever-increasing demands from consumers for products that are more effi cient, act faster, are easier to apply and use safely, and comply with the cost-benefi t criterion.
