EXPLOITATION OF BIO-BASED AND MICROBIAL PRODUCTS IN INDIAN CLEANING SCIENCE

The cleaning awareness is growing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the demand for personal hygiene and homecare products is rising and expected to rise the global compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% during 2021-26. Nearly, 84% of the users changed and adapted the new cleaning practices in the ways they clean their homes. Hence, the behavioural changes during pandemic has made users more aware about their hygiene at personal as well as home for reduction of chances of infections. Thus, the demand for household cleaning products is increasing exponentially. The most commonly and dominated household products are supplied by chemical industries which are experiencing ups and down in recent years but during the global COVID-19 crisis, the chemical sector is going to be benefited. Among these homecare products, 90-95% contains hazardous chemicals and hence the health and hygiene have become priority issues for government at the national level as well as for users at the individual level. As with the medical industry, the chemical cleaning product sector has seen an increase in demand during the current health emergency but its has some direct and indirect issues related to health and environmental pollution. This paper mainly focussing on the health and environmental issues of chemical based cleaning products, its challenges and opportunities for health and environment friendly safe alternatives. Considering the global need and user safety, Indian startup launched bio-based and natural homecare cleaning products which are made from microbial fermentation, plant extracts and its essential oil based components. The surge in innovation and novel cleaning technology has led to the development of homecare brands excellent in: germ fighting property, dirt or stain removal efficiency, shining and naturally feeling pleasant aromas wit