Page 23 - Sphere No.30 (Dec 2011)

Sphere 30
Zhang Lei, Head of Research and Development at
Shanghai Hutchison Whitecat Company Ltd, oversees
the ultimate “Chinese laundry”. It is housed in a spacious
laboratory where Ms Zhang and her 42-strong team of
chemical engineers strive to improve laundry detergents and
other cleaning aids, as well as to make them more eco-friendly.
Washing machines churn day and night at the Shanghai
facility as new formulations are put to the test both on textiles
and dishes soiled with every imaginable stain. While most
consumers take humble cleaning products for granted,
perfecting them is a serious science. In addition to this, the
scientists at White Cat have an illustrious history of more than
six decades to live up to.
The Shanghai Yongxing Chemical Industry Co Ltd, as it
was known when established in 1948, was China’s first factory
to manufacture powdered laundry detergent. In addition to
introducing concentrated laundry powder in the Mainland,
the state-owned enterprise was also the first to launch an
aerosol cuff and collar spot cleaner; liquid laundry detergent
for silk and wool, and household and fabric bleach.
In 2001, Ms Zhang’s unit was recognised by the Chinese
government as a nationally-important centre of research and
development. It holds 16 national patents for laundry and
cleaning formulations, plus many more for packaging.
Today, Ms Zhang and her team are in a technology
race to develop laundry products that can turn clothes into
anti-bacterial shields; permeate fibres with long-lasting
fragrances and progressively coat fabric with stain-releasing
nano-particles.
Leading
scientists
engineer a cleaning revolution
21
The company has launched one of China’s first anti-
bacterial dishwashing liquids and a fabric softener with long
lasting, fresh fragrance. The coating technology is already used
in White Cat’s window cleaning product.
To develop its new fabric softener, White Cat became the
first laundry brand in China to cooperate with New York-
based International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc (IFF), a global
industry leader in its field.
“When you move, you can still smell the special fragrance
in your clothes months later,” said Ms Zhang. White Cat has
also worked with IFF on the use of food grade fragrances in
dishwashing liquid. “As a brand we are trusted for developing
products that are safe for consumers to use on their eating
utensils. Our liquid detergents are also are mild on the skin,
even for those with allergies.”
White Cat places strong emphasis on being “green”. “All our
raw materials must be phosphate free and biodegradable to
prevent pollution of water supplies and lakes,” said Ms Zhang.
“Decades ago all washing powders contained phosphate.
Now all of White Cat’s powders, as well as its other household
detergents are phosphate free and biodegradable.” White Cat’s
specially formulated concentrated detergents also help to
reduce water consumption in a water-stressed nation.
“We are an innovative brand supported by a strong
research and development team,” said Ms Zhang. “Our
scientists and engineers graduated from the best universities
all over China,” she added with pride. “We aim to advance the
cleaning capabilities of all our products, whilst simultaneously
protecting the environment.”