Viridi has appointed former Unilever R&D leader Alastair Sanderson CChem FRSC as a strategic advisor as the company prepares to move its CO2-based chemistry platform from pilot stage towards industrial deployment. The UK-based company also announced the appointment of process chemist Kostas Papanikolaou, reinforcing its technical team as it advances the scale-up of CO2-derived materials.
The appointments come as Viridi builds momentum following the launch of its first CO2-based surfactant, Vireya. The company is working with manufacturing partners and consumer brands as it prepares for wider industrial use of its technology.
Sanderson brings more than three decades of experience from Unilever’s research and development operations. During his career he led programmes focused on the development and commercialisation of home care technologies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diversify raw material supply chains.
At Unilever he played a central role in developing the Carbon Rainbow framework. The model set out a way to broaden the carbon sources used in consumer product formulations beyond traditional fossil-based inputs.
Sanderson also led the Flue2Chem project, a collaboration funded by Innovate UK involving 17 partners. The initiative examined the full value chain required to convert captured industrial CO2 into commodity surfactants used in everyday consumer products.
The project received a Net-Zero Industries Award at COP30 in 2025. Its work focused on the practical challenges of turning captured carbon into chemical ingredients that can be manufactured at industrial scale.
This experience aligns closely with Viridi’s focus on CO2-derived surfactants and other chemical ingredients. Moving these materials from laboratory development to reliable manufacturing processes is widely seen as a critical stage in the commercialisation of carbon utilisation technologies.
“Viridi has reached a point where the underlying science is solid, and the focus is now on delivery,” said Sanderson. “What appealed to me is that the technology has moved beyond proof-of-concept. The questions now are about scale, manufacturability and how it fits into existing industrial systems, which is often where promising chemistry either succeeds or fails. I’ve spent much of my career working on that transition from research into real products. Viridi is at exactly that stage, and that’s where I think the work becomes most interesting and impactful for CO2-based materials.”
Sanderson joins Viridi as he transitions into consultancy work following his career at Unilever. His appointment signals a wider shift across the chemicals sector as companies look for alternative carbon sources and lower-emissions production methods.
Interest in carbon utilisation has increased in recent years as industries seek ways to reduce reliance on fossil-based feedstocks. Materials derived from captured CO2 are gaining attention in sectors such as personal care, home care, and specialty chemicals.
The pressure to adopt new feedstocks is also being shaped by regulatory changes and supply chain uncertainty. Manufacturers are increasingly seeking technologies that can be integrated into existing infrastructure without major changes to production systems.
Viridi says the company is focusing on this compatibility as it prepares for the next phase of development. Ensuring new chemistry can operate reliably within current manufacturing processes is viewed as a key requirement for commercial adoption.
Alongside Sanderson’s appointment, the company has hired Kostas Papanikolaou as Process Chemist. His role will focus on scaling the company’s chemical processes and catalyst production as the technology moves closer to industrial use.
Papanikolaou has experience in chemical reactor design, catalyst manufacturing and process scale-up. His previous roles include positions at SABIC, Johnson Matthey and carbon utilisation company OXCCU.
At Viridi he will support the scale-up of both applications and catalyst manufacturing. The aim is to ensure that the company’s CO2-based chemistry can be produced consistently and integrated into partner manufacturing facilities.
Dr Daniel Stewart, CEO of Viridi, said the appointments reflect a shift in the company’s priorities as it transitions from research to industrial readiness.
“These hires reflect where Viridi is as a company today. The early work was about proving the chemistry; the focus now is on scale-up, manufacturing readiness and working with commercial partners who need technologies that perform reliably in real manufacturing environments. Bringing in people with experience of taking new materials through that transition is an important step as we prepare for broader industrial adoption.”
The company recently introduced Vireya, its first CO2-based anionic surfactant. Surfactants are widely used across cleaning products, detergents and personal care formulations, making them a major market for alternative raw materials.
The launch marks a shift in Viridi’s development path as the company begins market engagement with industry partners. Work is underway with surfactant manufacturers and consumer brands exploring the integration of CO2-derived ingredients into product formulations.
Viridi is also collaborating with specialty chemicals manufacturer Zschimmer & Schwarz. The partnership focuses on evaluating applications for CO2-based surfactants and progressing projects toward commercial deployment.
The company says building the right technical team is central to moving these partnerships from early development into manufacturing. Scaling production, refining catalysts and ensuring reliability across industrial processes are key areas of focus.
With new technical expertise and growing interest from industry partners, Viridi is positioning its CO2 chemistry platform for wider deployment. The company’s current focus is on supporting manufacturing readiness and preparing for larger scale use of carbon-derived materials across the chemicals sector.
