BASF expands portfolio of RSPO-certified surfactants, underlining its clear commitment for the use of sustainable palm (kernel) oil-based products

June 30, 2021

The BASF Home Care, I&I and Industrial Formulators Europe business is significantly expanding its portfolio of palm-based surfactants with RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certifications. As one of the first RSPO members, BASF is thus underlining its continued commitment to support the production of sustainable palm (kernel) oil in the future.

In addition, BASF is helping its European customers to meet consumer demand for environment-friendly products both in the detergents and cleaners industry and amongst users of industrial applications.

BASF now offers around 150 surfactants certified according to the RSPO standard ’Mass Balance’. "We want to offer our customers the broadest possible range of sustainable solutions. Surfactants in particular play an important role in a wide variety of our customers' formulations and applications. With our expanded range of RSPO-certified surfactants, we are helping our customers meet their ambition to use certified, sustainable palm (kernel) oil-based products and reduce carbon in their value chain," says Soeren Hildebrandt, Senior Vice President Home Care, I&I and Industrial Formulators Europe. With this step, the company once again underscores its commitment to sustainable action along the entire value chain.

BASF's commitment to sustainable oil palm products

Last year, BASF reached an important milestone on its path to sustainable palm oil. Since 2020, BASF has sourced palm (kernel) oils exclusively from RSPO-certified sustainable sources. RSPO-certified production of palm (kernel) oil shows around 36 percent lower global warming impact than non-certified production. Compared to conventional sourcing, BASF contributed to a saving of more than 300,000 metric tons of carbon emission in 2020. And the commitment continues: By 2025, the voluntary commitment to certified sourcing is to be extended to include those significant intermediates which are based on palm oil and palm (kernel) oil, e.g. fatty alcohols and fatty acids.

Palm-based surfactants for numerous applications

BASF produces palm-based ingredients for cosmetic products, detergents and cleaning agents, and industrial applications. The majority of oil palm products used by BASF are based on palm kernel oil and its derivatives, and to a lesser extent on palm oil.

Surfactants are mainly used to formulate detergents, cleaning agents and dishwashing products. They are also used in technical applications for industrial solutions, for example to produce superplasticizers, emulsifiers for emulsion polymerization, or additives in crop protection.