BASF launches certified sustainable palm oil-based cosmetics ingredients

19-Feb-2014 - Last updated on 19-Feb-2014 at 11:21 GMT

BASF has become one of the first suppliers to the European cosmetics and personal care industry to offer its range of ingredients based on certified sustainable palm (kernel) oil, in accordance with the principles and criteria of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

Palm oil and its derivatives are present in about 70% of cosmetic products and are obtained from the flesh of the fruit of African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and palm kernel oil is obtained by pressing oil from the kernel, or seed, of the fruit.

The high demand for palm oil from a whole host of industries including cosmetics, is fuelling unsustainable growth of the palm industry, so it is important for companies to adopt a sustainable development strategy.

With the launch of these ingredients, BASF hopes to move towards achieving its goal of purchasing all palm and palm kernel oil from certified sustainable sources by 2015.

Jan-Peter Sander, Senior Vice President Personal Care Europe, BASF explains: "Depending on their individual demands, our customers can choose between two certified supply chain models to drive their own sustainable development forward."

Process

The palm kernel oil used to produce these ingredients is sourced via either the Segregation (SG) or the Mass Balance (MB) supply chain system of the RSPO.

The SG supply chain system assures that the palm oil is kept strictly separated from uncertified oil in every step of the individual production process, from the plantation to the final product.

The MB supply chain system allows for mixing of RSPO-certified oil with oil from uncertified sources at any point in the supply chain. A match between the purchased volumes of certified palm (kernel) oil and processed derivatives needs to be guaranteed.

Development

BASF claims that its ingredients based on certified sustainable palm kernel oil will allow personal care manufacturers to develop value-added formulations that meet the strongly increasing market demand for certified, sustainable sourcing of raw materials.

The new line includes main surfactants to formulate products for personal care or household cleaners as well as emollients for skin care formulations.

"Customer demands towards sustainable solutions are constantly increasing. Introducing these ingredients is an important step to support this development," says Levent Yüksel, Vice President of Primary Surfactants and Fatty Alcohols Personal Care Europe, BASF.