Ludwigshafen, Germany, April 7, 2025 – In response to the regulations around the world (including EU Green Deal) aiming to promote safer and more sustainable chemicals into the environment, BASF is introducing its first readily biodegradable dispersant to the agrochemical market: Sokalan^® CP 301.

Dispersants are essential additives in agricultural formulations ensuring the homogenous distribution of active ingredients and enhancing formulation stability. However, non-biodegradable additives can persist in the environment once sprayed on the field. The market anticipates stricter regulations for such additives soon. Biodegradable dispersants exhibiting high performance in the formulation remain limited due to biodegradability, often resulting in decreasing storage stability of the formulation.

“Leveraging the expertise of our chemists and application specialists, we have successfully identified an excellent dispersant that meets biodegradability criteria in sludge and soil while demonstrating exceptional performance in dispersing challenging active ingredients and maintaining storage stability,” says Laszlo Szarvas, Vice President – Head of Research & Development, Home Care, Industrial & Institutional Cleaning and Industrial Formulators.

Sokalan^® CP 301 addresses a market gap for sustainable agriculture by offering a readily biodegradable alternative to existing dispersants. “With this, we are enabling the green transformation of our customers by further building on our excellent track record in innovation,” states Jordi Tormo, Vice President, Industrial Formulators Business Management, EMEA.

This launch underscores BASF´s dedication to sustainable additives. Sokalan^® CP 301 sets new standards in environmental responsibility and chemical innovation.

About the Care Chemicals division at BASF

The BASF division Care Chemicals 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 detergent and cleaner 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. Further information is available online at www.care-chemicals.basf.com. 

About BASF

At BASF, 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 112,000 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 €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.