BASF unveils eco-friendly emulsifier and enzymes for beauty and hygiene solutions at SEPAWA Congress

25 Oct 2023 --- BASF is presenting its innovations catered to the personal care, home care and industrial and institutional cleaning market trends at the SEPAWA (Soap, Perfume, Cosmetic and Detergent Professionals) Congress. The trade show in Berlin, Germany, has begun today and will end on October 27. 

The new solutions are part of BASF’s “Care Chemicals Initiative Care 360° – Solutions for Sustainable Life,” the division’s cross-business approach to cover all topics impacting the future of key markets and industries: Sustainability, digitalization, innovation and new approaches to working together.

“The Personal Care unit is particularly focused on driving sustainable innovations due to its proximity to the end consumer,” says Becky Stiles, head of applied sustainability for EU and APAC, Care Chemicals at BASF.

“I’m pleased that we’re taking responsibility and offering our customers opportunities to increase transparency and sustainability in their value chains.”

Readily biodegradable emulsifier
BASF has launched Emulgade Verde 10 MS, an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsifier for natural personal care formulations. The chemicals company asserts that most consumers are looking for a more conscious approach to consumer goods.

“They are interested in natural products that improve their emotional well-being and skin health,” says the company.

BASF is demonstrating a new emulsifier for skin care at SEPAWA Congress 2023.With Emulgade Verde 10 MS, BASF is expanding its polyglyceryl fatty acid ester technology for natural formulations and supporting current market developments.

The versatile O/W emulsifier offers environmental sustainability benefits and “proven high performance.” Emulgade Verde 10 MS is readily biodegradable and based on 100% renewable feedstocks. The ingredient is preservative-free and manufactured using an ecological solvent-free process.

The emulsifier is robust and flexible and provides good stability in O/W creams and lotions. It is also compatible with commonly used cosmetic ingredients, including synthetic and biopolymers. 

Emulgade Verde 10 MS is suitable for a wide range of cosmetic formulations, providing “shear thinning behavior” and supporting distribution on the skin.

Dermatological tests show that it is suitable for sensitive skin. Furthermore, this O/W emulsifier can be used for microbiome-friendly concepts, suggests BASF.

Green solutions for hygiene
Furthermore, BASF has debuted the eco-friendly Lavergy M Ace 100 L made with mannanase. These enzymes are “essential components” of modern detergent formulations that aid in environmentally sustainable laundry performance. The enzymes help lift stubborn stains in home and commercial laundry applications.An enzyme that helps lift stains in cold washes aims to reduce laundry’s carbon footprint.

Lavergy M Ace 100 L uses guar gum and locust bean gum, which are commonly used to thicken and stabilize processed food products such as salad dressings, sauces, soups, ice cream and desserts.

The mannanase allows for ease of stain removal in cold and short washes. Cold washing uses less energy, cutting fuel bills and carbon footprint. BASF says combining mannanase with other Lavergy enzymes and more of its portfolio products will boost detergent performance and get clothes clean “even under challenging conditions.”

Additionally, BASF’s new biodegradable polymer, Sokalan Ecopure C, supports multiple automatic dishwashing detergent formats.

The company says consumers want to contribute to a cleaner environment without changing their preferred routine or compromising on cleaning results. “With BASF’s solution, consumers can continue using their usual automatic dishwashing detergent format — powder, liquid, capsules, or tablets — while improving their environmentally sustainable footprint.”

By combining the power of the new readily biodegradable polymer Sokalan Ecopure C and the sustainable complexing agent Trilon M, even tough stains on glassware, dishes and cutlery are cleaned while being gentle on the environment.

By Sabine Waldeck