BASF has entered into an agreement with a Brazilian sustainable agriculture outfit to source macauba oil for use in its personal care ingredient portfolio.
INOCAS (Innovative Oil and Carbon Solutions) will supply the German giant with macauba kernel oil (MKO) with commercial pilot volumes next year.
Macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) is a native tree in Brazil and is adapted to semi-arid conditions and poor soils.
The partnership includes financing of INOCAS’ plans to significantly expand macauba oil production in Brazil on an industrial scale.
INOCAS aims to plant at least 50,000 hectares of Macaúba in partnership with smallholder farmers by 2030.
This system supports regenerative agriculture by combining forestry and livestock farming without an additional land use change.
“As a leading supplier of ingredients for personal and home care, our Care Chemicals division is committed to securing and diversifying its supply of sustainable raw materials. A significant portion of our products are derived from renewable sources such as natural oils,” said Mary Kurian, President of BASF Care Chemicals.
“Together with our customers, we are striving for sustainable sourcing, protecting ecosystems and promoting sustainable practices. Macauba kernel oil represents a new sustainable opportunity in this effort,” she added.
Under the terms of the agreement, INOCAS will also supply, from 2027, macauba pulp oil (MPO) to be used as an alternative feedstock to substitute fossil fuels.
MPO can be used in the process of obtaining bio-naphtha, which then can be converted into polymers, solvents, detergents, lubricants, synthetic fibres, fuels and other products.
“Using MPO in its bio-naphtha pool and for its mass-balance portfolio will enable BASF to offer more products based on renewable raw materials and with a lower product carbon footprint (PCF) to its customers,” the company said.
