IFF and BASF partner to revolutionize home and personal care
The joint initiative is poised to lead advancements in sustainable cleaning ingredient development, enabling customers across sectors to enhance product efficacy while advancing environmental goals.
USA – IFF and BASF have announced a strategic collaboration to accelerate the development of IFF’s Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials™ technology platform.
This partnership aims to create next-generation enzyme technologies and bio-based polymers for applications in fabric, dish, personal care, and industrial cleaning products.
The collaboration aims to provide high-performance, sustainable solutions that address evolving consumer and market demands by enhancing cleaning performance, improving personal care formulations, reducing environmental impact, and supporting the transition to a more sustainable future.
By combining BASF’s advanced chemical expertise with IFF’s biotechnology and protein engineering capabilities, the collaboration focuses on breakthrough solutions at scale that optimize performance while reducing resource consumption.
According to the partnership agreement, both companies will continue to operate independently and maintain competitive positioning, but leverage their complementary strengths to accelerate innovation and offer expanded choices globally.
Executives from both companies highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership.
Michael Heinz, member of the board of executive directors at BASF, stated, “This partnership marks a strategically significant step for both companies.”
“By combining our research and development expertise, we are creating the foundation to bring large-scale innovative solutions to market faster for our customers.”
IFF CEO Erik Fyrwald expressed excitement about unlocking new potential in enzyme and polymer technologies to create sustainable value for the industry and environment.
He stated, “Our partnership enables us to develop market-driven solutions that create sustainable value for both the industry and the environment.”
This collaboration aligns with broader sustainability efforts by both companies, such as BASF’s launch of plant-derived active ingredients produced with renewable energy.
Similarly, the move is in line with FF’s development of biodegradable, regulatory-compliant fragrance encapsulation technologies designed to meet consumer sustainability demands.
According to a report published by IFF, the Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials™ (DEB) platform enables the creation of biodegradable, high-performance materials using enzyme-driven processes.
It allows for precise molecular customization, producing alternatives to fossil-based polymers without compromising product efficacy, according to IFF.
DEB materials are non-toxic, scalable, and suitable for applications in home care, beauty, and personal care.
The platform’s first commercial use was in a laundry detergent that delivered enhanced softness and cleaning power. DEB supports sustainable innovation by aligning with green chemistry principles and reducing environmental impact.
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