BASF recently announced a diverse range of ingredients based on certified sustainable palm (kernel) oil [1], in accordance with the principles and criteria of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
“Depending on their individual demands, our customers can choose between two certified supply chain models to drive their own sustainable development forward,” explains Jan-Peter Sander, Senior Vice President Personal Care Europe, BASF. Actually, the palm (kernel) oil used to produce the new rang 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 (kernel) oil and the subsequent derivatives are 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.
While the RSPO-MB system represents an intermediate step on the way to the fully traceable sustainable sourcing of oil palm products, the RSPO-SG based ingredients enable the development of market products containing derivatives physically based on certified sustainable palm (kernel) oil. To establish a segregated supply chain system for palm (kernel) oil-based ingredients, BASF has invested in setting up separate tanks, as well as production and transportation measures.
BASF offer 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,” said Levent Yüksel, Vice President of Primary Surfactants and Fatty Alcohols Personal Care Europe, BASF.
With the launch of these ingredients, BASF is moving towards achieving its goal of purchasing all palm and palm kernel oil from certified sustainable sources by 2015.
