A very common class of ionic surfactants are the alkyl sulfates. These have many uses including cleaning products, hair care and laundry. Unfortunately, some of the common alkyl sulfates have the downside of being irritating to the skin. Alkyl sulfates can also be toxic to aquatic organisms. Because of these concerns consumers are increasingly avoiding alkyl sulfate surfactants and an alternative is needed. Commonly, sodium lauryl ether sulfate molecules have been adopted for personal care applications due to their high cleaning efficacy and reduced negative impacts upon the skin (due in part to the larger molecular structure and incorporation of ethylene oxide groups, in addition to a lower charge density). Sulfate based surfactants can, however, have negative environmental impacts due to their potential persistence in water bodies and their production processes, which may generate byproducts of concern (e.g., 1,4-dioxane, which can be present in trace amounts in products containing sulfate surfactants). Sarcosinates are a class of surfactant that can, potentially, overcome these issues. Comprising of a headgroup based on the amino acid sarcosine, and a hydrophobic alkane tail, these surfactants are milder than alkyl sulfates and have a good safety profile. They are naturally derived, 9 biodegradable and can be produced via biological processes. The presence of harmful by products is also diminished in this class of surfactant. These advantages make sarcosinate surfactants a potentially attractive option for the formulator.