ABSTRACT
Any surfactant can be considered a green surfactant if it is readily biodegradable and produces significantly less toxicity in the aquatic environment. Modern surfactants fulfill both of these criteria; however, most of the surfactants are synthesized from petroleum. That is why detergent and cosmetic industries have gained the attention of adopting a green approach to create different surfactants through renewable resources such as building blocks. Consumer demand for biodegradable, biocompatible, and environmentally friendly surfactants is increasing day by day as they are more powerful and greener. The chapter discusses the overview of surfactants made from renewable resources, their characteristics, merits and demerits, production, characterization, and applications.
