Guar gum is a natural hydrocolloid derived from the seeds of the guar bean, and is a sustainable, renewable, environmentally friendly resource with a wide range of uses. Hydroxypropyl guar (HPG), also known as guar ether, 2-hydroxypropyl ether, guar 2-hydroxypropyl ether, or propoxylated guar, is produced by an etherification reaction in which guar gum is chemically modified with a nonionic propylene oxide reagent. The resulting product, hydroxypropyl guar, is a material with a wide range of uses.

In agriculture, it can be used as an inert thickener in pesticide formulations. In the food industry, it is approved as an indirect food additive. It is also used as a sizing agent in textiles, a rheology modifier in oil drilling, and a paper properties enhancer in papermaking.