There is provided a surface-active material that comprises fibres made of a waxy material, said material having a contact angle at the air/water interface or the oil/water interface between 60.degree. and 120.degree.. The surface-active material can be used for foam and emulsion formation and stabilisation, coatings, encapsulation and drug delivery. It can for example be used in the following industries: foods, home and personal care, oilfield, agriculture, textile, construction, emulsion polymerisation, leather, plastic, pulp, paper and pharma.