in|stead
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DE | EN
B2B • Surface Performance • Bio-based

We boost
your formulations —
with bio-based additives.

in|stead develops sustainable additives for hydrophobicity and targeted property tuning. B2B partnership from screening to piloting.

Water droplet on a hydrophobic surface

Typical application areas

Wood protection & oils · Paper/packaging · Textiles · Natural stone · Leather care

Early example (screening)

In a wood-oil system, 2.5% addition showed >30% reduced water uptake vs. reference in lab screening (system dependent).

Bio-based
Sustainable additives based on natural inputs — compatible with modern formulations.
Reduce the fossil share of your formulation without sacrificing performance. Compatible with existing processes – project-specific availability. Supports ESG targets and credible sustainability claims.
Fluorine-free
Developed without fluorinated compounds (incl. PFAS-free) — alternative to fluorine-based hydrophobicity.
Achieve surface effects without PFAS and reduce regulatory and supply-chain risk. Simplifies declarations and customer communication (fluorine-free / PFAS-free). Enables future-proof substitution in sensitive applications.
Plastic-free
No plastics as the functional principle — supports plastic-free strategies and clear claims.
Avoid microplastics concerns and meet emerging requirements for polymer-free formulations. Nature-derived alternatives with reproducible quality. Compatible with common recipes and established production processes.
Notes on sensitive applications

Designed without problematic substances: assessment and classification are product- and use-case specific.
Production in grades for sensitive applications is generally feasible; requirements (e.g., food-contact) must be assessed and validated per project.

Start a project
Share application, matrix and target KPIs — we respond with a test proposal.
Request samples
For screening and pilots — variant selection is clarified per project.