Turning Whey into Value

Dairy side streams as ingredients for sustainable cleaning

PROJECT INFO:

DURATION: 
2026
 
FUNDING:
Virksomhedsudvikling Danmark
 

PARTNERS:
Soap Nordic
Teknologisk Institut

CHALLENGE

Low-value use of side streams and reliance on fossil-based surfactants

TECHNOLOGY

Co-cultivation of microalgae and bacteria to produce biosurfactants

POTENTIAL

Enables sustainable, low-carbon ingredients for cleaning products

The project converts dairy side streams into high value ingredients for industrial use.

The SOAP project develops a circular production platform for bio‑based surfactants. Soap Nordic leads the project with support from DTI and uses co‑cultivation of microalgae and bacteria to convert acid whey from Arla’s skyr production into high‑value biosurfactants for cleaning products.

This approach replaces fossil‑based surfactants with a sustainable, low‑carbon alternative. The project optimizes the bioprocess, develops mild extraction methods, and tests the performance of the biosurfactants in real product applications.

By linking side streams from the dairy industry with ingredient production, the project strengthens resource efficiency and supports a circular bioeconomy while building a more resilient Danish food and bio‑ingredient sector.

PARTNERS:
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Projektet er en del af Virksomhedsudvikling Danmark.

Vi åbner løbende nye calls og programmer, der understøtter innovation inden for fødevarer og bioressourcer.

Louise Albeck Larsen

Louise Albeck Larsen

Program Manager (Innovationsbevillingen)

Udforsk vores andreinnovationssamarbejder