A polyester surfactant includes a condensation esterification product of a) a polyhydric alcohol, b) a dimer or trimer of an C2 to C42 acid, and c) polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol. The polyhydric alcohol is selected from glycerol, arabitol, sorbitol, sorbitan, mannitol, mannitan, erythritol, pentaerythritol, or mixtures thereof. The polyester surfactant is used for deinking, for example, printed waste paper. A method for deinking includes a step of contacting an aqueous pulp slurry with the addition of a composition comprising a polyester surfactant.