As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a year defined by execution, scale, and proof. Across our Evolution, Elevation, and Expedition product families, one theme stands out clearly: zwitterionic membrane technology is no longer an emerging concept – it’s delivering real, measurable impact across food processing, industrial water, and high-organic wastewater treatment.
From regulatory milestones and long-running systems to global expansion and leadership growth, 2025 laid the foundation for what’s shaping up to be an inflection point for ZwitterCo.
Anti-Fouling Membranes Take Center Stage in Food, Dairy, and Biotech Processing
2025 was the year we demonstrated, at scale, what zwitterionic technology can unlock for food, dairy, and biotech processors. The Evolution product family moved decisively from validation to adoption, with performance data and customer outcomes reinforcing its role as a new standard for anti-fouling membrane operation.
One of the most significant milestones this year was achieving FDA compliance for our Protein Concentration Membrane (PCM) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) elements. This expanded compliance opened the door to broader deployment in whey, milk, enzyme, and fermentation applications, enabling processors to pair regulatory confidence with operational stability.
Field performance backed up that promise. In dairy effluent treatment, we reached a major benchmark with the longest-running RO system – operating for more than 18 months without enzymatic cleaning. For operators accustomed to frequent, aggressive cleaning programs, this result redefines what long-term membrane stability can look like.
Throughout the year, Evolution membranes were deployed in more than 20 installations spanning dairy, food, beverage, enzyme, and fermentation streams. These systems reinforced a consistent theme: reduced fouling translates directly into higher productivity, lower chemical use, and more predictable operation.
As we head into 2026, Evolution is positioned for a breakout year – supported by regulatory alignment, proven performance, and growing confidence from processors seeking advanced membrane solutions.
Raising the Bar for Organic Fouling Resistance in RO
In 2025, Elevation continued to demonstrate why zwitterionic RO chemistry changes the equation for wastewater streams affected by organics. Field results across various installations showed that Elevation membranes deliver a combination of recovery, stability, and cleaning efficiency that conventional RO struggles to achieve.
Working with Esmil, Elevation RO systems achieved more than 70% water recovery while treating streams exceeding 30,000 ppm COD, producing permeate below 3,000 ppm. These results were delivered with less frequent cleaning and the use of commodity chemicals – simplifying operations while reducing cost.
At Serpol, Elevation RO performance translated directly into operational savings. Cleaning costs per cubic meter dropped by ~50%, cleaning water usage decreased by 43%, and membrane replacement frequency fell by 65%. For operators managing long-term treatment economics, these reductions compound quickly.
Deployments with AST highlighted another core advantage: cleanability. Elevation systems achieved a 96% reduction in cleaning chemical costs, relied solely on commodity chemicals, and maintained full normalized flow recovery after each CIP. The outcome is a membrane that not only resists fouling, but reliably returns to baseline performance.
Expanding Our European Footprint
Europe emerged as one of ZwitterCo’s strongest growth regions in 2025, with more than 30 new projects initiated across the region, driven by ZwitterCo’s expanding European team, with regional leadership from Daan Vandeplassche, Luuk Tetteroo, and Brendan Curran. Their work on the ground reflects a broader shift in how operators are approaching circular water challenges.
As Daan noted in a recent feature, “Circular water requires robust and intelligent membranes.” As operators look for stable, low-maintenance solutions for digestate, leachate, and high-organic industrial streams, ZwitterCo is becoming the technology they reach for first. With expanding partnerships, growing local stock, and increasing visibility, Europe is quickly becoming one of our strongest growth regions.
Read the full feature here.
Enabling Treatment and Reuse of the Most Challenging Streams
Industrial water treatment challenges continued to intensify in 2025, accelerating the need for reliable membrane-based solutions. Expedition rose to meet that demand, combining fouling-resistant performance with an expanded rental fleet and strengthened solutions capability.
This approach enabled faster mobilization and more successful deployments across leachate, food and beverage wastewaters, and other organic-laden streams. For operators facing urgent treatment or reuse requirements, Expedition delivered both speed and confidence.
Strengthening the Team to Support What’s Next
To support continued growth, we expanded our leadership team with a focus on execution and solutions.
Jay Harwood joined ZwitterCo as VP of Integrated Solutions, bringing more than 25 years of water treatment experience. Jay is focused on expanding system and solution offerings – helping industry evaluate, design, deploy, and support ZwitterCo technologies from initial assessment through long-term operation.
“Joining ZwitterCo is a highlight of my career. The ground-breaking technology, coupled with a brilliant team, is a catalyst to change the way we treat some of the most challenging waters.”
– Jay Harwood, VP of Integrated Solutions, ZwitterCo
Brendan O’Reilly also joined as VP of Engineering Operations, adding over 20 years of experience leading engineering, project execution, and manufacturing teams across North America and the Middle East. His background in high-recovery RO innovation and operational excellence strengthens our ability to scale with quality.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we close out 2025, we’re proud of what we’ve built – and even more excited about what’s ahead. With proven technology, expanding global reach, and a growing team, ZwitterCo is ready to help tackle the water challenges of 2026 and beyond.
If you’re exploring next steps for your process or wastewater application, our team is ready to support you with insights, application expertise, and practical solutions. Contact us today at inquiry@zwitterco.com