BASF earns innovation recognition for sustainable surfactant solutions
Industry leaders, experts and innovators attended the Shanghai ceremony, reflecting the award’s standing within the Asia-Pacific personal care ingredients community.
CHINA – BASF has been awarded the 2026 Ringier Technology Innovation Award in the Functional Chemicals, Surfactants category for its amino acid-based surfactant, Plantapon® Amino ASP.
The recognition underscores BASF’s science-led innovation strategy for the personal care sector and was presented at a ceremony in Shanghai, China.
About Plantapon® Amino ASP
According to BASF, Plantapon® Amino ASP is a next-generation, amino acid-based cleansing technology launched at PCHi 2026 in China and quickly adopted by formulators seeking modern, high-performance beauty routines.
It is described as vegan, RSPO-certified and free of preservatives, aligning with clean-label and sustainability expectations in facial cleansers, shampoos and related rinse-off products.
Beyond its “green” profile, the surfactant is engineered to deliver a distinctive hydrophobicity effect on skin, hair and teeth, translating into practical benefits such as easy rinsing, faster blow-drying, enhanced conditioning and anti-staining performance, while also helping reduce water and energy use during consumer use.
Dr. Chang Wang, Vice President, Business Management, Personal Care, Asia Pacific, BASF, stated, “We believe the future of Personal Care lies in solutions that bring together science, performance, and sustainability. Plantapon® Amino ASP embodies this vision, and we are proud to see it recognized by the industry.”
“This award reflects the passion, expertise, and dedication of our teams, as well as the strong collaboration with our customers and partners, that help turn innovation into meaningful customer value.”
The accolade reinforces BASF’s positioning as a technology provider that couples scientific rigour with market-relevant innovation in high-margin speciality segments.
For brand owners and contract manufacturers, the award provides external validation of Plantapon® Amino ASP’s formulation advantages and its fit with current consumer trends around mildness, efficacy, and environmental responsibility. In a competitive surfactants landscape, such recognition can accelerate specification wins and support premium positioning in both mass and prestige personal care portfolios.
For R&D and procurement teams in personal care, Plantapon® Amino ASP offers a route to upgrade cleansing systems without compromising on sensory or performance claims. Its amino acid base and preservative-free status simplify clean-label storytelling, while the RSPO certification supports responsible sourcing narratives.
The water- and energy-saving angles during rinse-off also provide additional sustainability levers for brands targeting eco-conscious consumers and reducing lifecycle impact.
The Ringier Technology Innovation Awards are widely regarded as among the most prestigious industry honors in China, celebrating technologies and solutions that drive sector progress and deliver new value to customers and end consumers.
The 2026 Ringier Technology Innovation Awards recognized winners across multiple industries in China, including BASF in Personal Care Surfactants, BYK and Nippon Paint in Coatings, ABB and Flexiv Robotics in Smart Manufacturing, and Kennametal and Sandvik Coromant in Metalworking.
Each sector highlighted sustainability, automation, and advanced materials as key innovation themes.
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