BASF partners with biobased surfactant companies in Japan and UK
Type of post: NEWS.
BASF has signed two partnerships agreements to expand its global position in the biobased surfactants market.
Press release: “BASF strengthens its position in biosurfactants for Personal Care, Home Care and Industrial Formulators with two distinct partnerships”, 10/03/2021.
Figure 1. BASF partners with biobased surfactant companies in Japan and the UK (taken from Holiferm website)
(1) A strategic alliance with Allied Carbon Solutions Co.,Ltd (ACS), Japanese provider of surfactants from biomass. The strategic alliance with ACS includes an equity stake and makes BASF the single largest shareholder. The partners have agreed not to disclose financial details regarding the investment.
In collaboration with ACS, BASF developed a novel sophorolipid-based ingredient, produced via fermentation technology, and launched it in the Asian market under the brandname BioToLife™ in the second quarter of 2020. BioToLife™ can curb the overgrowth of some harmful microbials. While the first product is already available, ACS and BASF will deepen the collaboration with the focus to develop a range of formulations based on sophorolipids with targeted performance.
(2) A strategic technology cooperation with Holiferm Ltd (UK) to develop a state-of-the-art production process for biosurfactant products.
Holiferm aims to accelerate the transition to circular economy by developing and supplying sustainable, non-fossil based, fermentation-derived ingredients for industrial and consumer products. The signed Joint Development Agreement between BASF and Holiferm is aiming at developing different glycolipids (outside of sophorolipids) for personal and home care as well as industrial formulators applications.
