This article describes the work being undertaken to make more use of supercritical carbon dioxide as a green solvent. It discusses how the use of surfactants can address the limitations of supercritical CO2 in dissolving solutes that are polar and of higher molecular weight. The design of appropriate hydrocarbon CO2-philic surfactant molecules is outlined. The future of this research in making clever use of an environmentally undesirable waste material is also considered.