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• Achievement of major 2025 targets highlights strong progress in the company’s sustainability program for cosmetic bioactives;
• Significant improvements in water and waste reduction; continued progress in energy efficiency;
• Strong momentum toward 2030 goals, with a clear focus on responsible sourcing that also strengthens supply reliability.
In recent years, BASF’s active ingredients business has significantly reduced its environmental footprint at the production site in Pulnoy, France, the central hub for cosmetic bioactives: the company exceeded its 2025 targets for water use and waste reduction, cutting water use by 48% and waste generation by 44% per ton of product compared to 2016. Energy consumption per ton of product decreased by 24% over the same period, reflecting continued improvements in sustainable operations. BCS has renewed its commitment to reduce its environmental footprint further until 2030.
“With Responsibly Active, we embed sustainability into how we innovate and source our ingredients. Reaching this first milestone shows what is possible when clear ambitions are combined with consistent action,” said Lucilene Veira Nunes, Global Business Management, BASF Beauty Care Solutions. “At the same time, true progress also means being transparent about challenges. Despite extensive efforts, we were not able to meet our recyclable packaging target without compromising on safety and logistics. This is why we have made the conscious decision to concentrate on areas where we can drive meaningful impact, strengthening our focus on what comes next.”
BASF Beauty Care Solutions is now fully focused on advancing its 2030 ambitions to protect natural resources and empower people along the bioactives value chain while further strengthening the resilience and reliability of its supply chains.
Progress toward these goals is well under way. For example, the target for raw materials that are biobased or derived from abundant minerals has already been achieved, reaching 95%. In addition, the share of organically certified botanical supply chains has increased to 42%, moving steadily toward the 2030 target of 50%.
BASF Beauty Care Solutions is also advancing initiatives that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion across its botanical value chains. In 2025, the company initiated a partnership with FairMatch Support West Africa, an international, independent social venture that develops and improves sustainable agricultural supply chains. Together, they promote the integration of Irvingia into existing cooperative structures in Togo. The project fosters women’s inclusion, supports local capacity building, and strengthens social impact at the source. Irvingia gabonensis, also known as wild mango, is the natural resource for BASF’s shea butter alternative Irwinol®.
Building on BASF’s more than 20 years of experience in sustainable sourcing for key raw materials like palm (kernel), castor, and coconut oil, Responsibly Active extends this approach to botanical supply chains, combining innovation with a structured framework for responsible practices that enhance both sustainability and long-term supply security across the bioactives portfolio.
About the Care Chemicals division at BASF
The BASF division Care Chemicals (care-chemicals.basf.com) offers a broad range of ingredients for personal care, home care, industrial & institutional cleaning, and technical applications. We are a leading global supplier for the cosmetics industry as well as the detergents and cleaners industry, and support our customers with innovative and sustainable products, solutions and concepts. The division’s high-performance product portfolio includes surfactants, emulsifiers, polymers, emollients, chelating agents, cosmetic active ingredients and UV filters. We have production and development sites in all regions and are expanding our presence in emerging markets.
About BASF
At BASF (basf.com), we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 95,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €60 billion in 2025.
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