Evonik advances RSPO certifications

Evonik's two new production facilities for cosmetics ingredients in Shanghai (China) and Americana (Brazil) were recently certified in accordance with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standard. "This creates an important prerequisite for offering additional certified products to our customers," said Dr. Tammo Boinowitz, the head of the Personal Care Business Line at Evonik.

Evonik is one of the leading suppliers of raw materials for the cosmetics industry and processes derivatives of palm oil and palm kernel oil, among other substances. As a member of the RSPO, Evonik advocates the use of sustainably produced palm oil in the supply chain. "We strive to use the largest possible share of RSPO-certified fatty acids and fatty alcohols from palm oil in our products for cosmetics, detergents and cleaning agents," said Boinowitz. Evonik has introduced a corresponding supply chain system for this purpose.

The first production sites in Essen and Steinau became RSPO-certified in late 2013, followed by the sites in Shanghai and Americana in the spring of 2015. Certification of additional Evonik production sites is planned in the near future.

The assortment of products made from sustainably produced palm oil derivatives is steadily growing as well. In addition to a range of emulsifiers, consistency enhancers for creams, and rinse ingredients that meet the RSPO mass balance standard, Evonik recently launched an RSPO-certified surfactant. TEGO® Betain P 50 C (Cocamidopropyl Betaine) is a new version of a surfactant commonly used in shower gels and shampoos. In addition to RSPO certification (SG certification), the product offers a number of application benefits.

"We are committed to the highest environmental and social standards and want to support our customers with reaching their own sustainability goals," explained Boinowitz. Among other measures, Evonik has developed the CAREtain® communication platform, which allows manufacturers to compare the environmental factors and application properties of cosmetic ingredients to compile environmentally sound, modern formulations.