Düsseldorf, Germany – September 15, 2016

The COSMOS standard (COSMetic Organic Standard) is one of the most important international standards for natural cosmetics. Until now, the standards of the national cosmetics associations in Europe also applied – above all BDIH (Germany) and Ecocert (France). When they are replaced by the uniform COSMOS standard starting in January 2017, BASF will be ready for the change: more than a 100 of the ingredients developed by BASF for cosmetic and body care products have already been registered with COSMOS. About half of the products also have a certificate of the international natural and organic cosmetics association NATRUE – including the ultra-light emollient Cetiol^® Ultimate and the emulsifier Emulgade^® Sucro Plus. That makes BASF the largest provider of raw materials that are approved for natural and organic cosmetic products under the COSMOS and NATRUE standards.

Broad portfolio for an easy choice

“We offer a large selection of certified ingredients for manufacturers who want to certify their products according to the COSMOS standard,” says Ute Griesbach, Marketing Manager of Personal Care Europe. The BASF portfolio for natural and organic cosmetics ranges from basic raw materials – like surfactants and emollients – to additives and active ingredients.

The COSMOS and NATRUE standards apply to natural and organic cosmetics

Products can already be labeled with the COSMOS signature and the NATRUE logo. The COSMOS standard distinguishes between natural cosmetics (Cosmos-natural) and organic cosmetics (Cosmos-organic); the NATRUE standard differentiates natural cosmetics, natural cosmetics with organic ingredients, and organic cosmetics. Both standards use a multi-step approach: products that are approved as organic cosmetics must also meet the criteria for natural cosmetics or natural cosmetics with organic ingredients.

About the Care Chemicals division at BASF

The BASF division Care Chemicals offers a broad range of ingredients for personal care, hygiene, home care, industrial & institutional cleaning, and technical applications. We are the global leading 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. Superabsorbent polymers developed for the full spectrum of hygiene applications complete the range. We have production and development sites in all regions and are expanding our presence in emerging markets. Further information is available on the Internet at www.care-chemicals.basf.com

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 112,000 employees in the BASF Group work to support the success of our customers in nearly every industry and in almost every country in the world. Our portfolio includes the segments of Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. In 2015, BASF achieved a worldwide sales volume of more than €70 billion. BASF is listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). More information can be found at www.basf.com