As global brands race to meet 2030 sustainability targets, the packaging industry finds itself at a crossroads. With increasing pressure from regulators, retailers, and consumers, brand owners are seeking solutions that deliver significant environmental benefits without sacrificing quality or production efficiency. BASF’s Bio-Renewable Content Portfolio presents a promising path forward—one that doesn’t compromise on performance, compliance, or packaging appeal.
At the core of this portfolio, BASF’s Joncryl® BRC resins, Formulation and Performance Additives stand out for their high bio-renewable content, low VOC emissions, and versatility across various substrates. Below is a closer look at key products and their benefits.
RESINS:
Joncryl BRC resins are designed to meet the evolving demands of sustainable packaging. These resins deliver vibrant color, high-gloss finishes, durability, and block resistance—each tailored to specific performance requirements across a wide range of substrates and printing technologies. Notably, the new product line incorporates a minimum of 50% Bio-Renewable Content (on solids), reinforcing its commitment to sustainability.
By combining renewable content with proven functionality, Joncryl BRC resins support converters in achieving their sustainability goals while aligning with changing regulatory and ecolabel standards.
JONCRYL BRC 662 is a water-based emulsion designed for flexographic and gravure inks on corrugated and kraft paper. It combines 50% bio-renewable content with strong on-press performance, offering excellent transfer and vibrant color strength. Its resolubility helps keep production running smoothly, while built-in scuff resistance adds durability to printed surfaces.
JONCRYL BRC 6890 is a high-gloss, non-film-forming aqueous emulsion developed for water-based inks and overprint varnishes on paper. Featuring 50% bio-renewable content and a glycol ether-free formulation, it helps reduce VOC emissions while maintaining a polished finish. Its high glass transition temperature ensures block resistance and crisp print clarity, making it ideal for premium packaging and label applications.
JONCRYL BRC 6824 is a low-Tg, film-forming aqueous emulsion for flexographic and gravure inks and coatings on paper substrates. It offers strong adhesion and rub resistance, making it suitable for packaging that demands durability. With 50% bio-renewable content it supports reduced reliance on fossil-based materials while maintaining high performance.
ADDITIVES:
Ink formulators depend on functional additives such as defoamers, rheology modifiers, and dispersants to optimize the performance and stability of their products. Defoamers suppress foam formation during manufacturing and application, which is critical for maintaining film integrity and print quality. Rheology modifiers enable precise control over viscosity and shear behavior, ensuring consistent flow and transfer properties across various printing technologies. Dispersants stabilize pigment dispersion, enhancing color strength and preventing flocculation or sedimentation. Increasingly, formulators are also seeking additives with bio-renewable content to align with sustainability goals, reduce environmental impact, and meet growing regulatory and consumer demands for eco-friendly products.
Our portfolio supports sustainability goals through a dedicated range of certified additives containing renewable content and offering enhanced process efficiency. This includes products under the FOAMSTAR®, FOAMASTER®, RHEOVIS®, DISPEX®, HYDROPALAT®, LOXANOL®, EFKA®, and TINUVIN® brands. These additives help reduce carbon footprints while maintaining or improving performance, enabling the transition to more sustainable ink formulations. We utilize renewable raw materials derived primarily from vegetable oils, fats, grains, sugars, and wood, and are committed to continuously increasing their share across our value chains. In parallel, when fossil-based raw materials are used, we evaluate them based on economic viability, supply security, process and product safety, and their overall sustainability impact throughout the lifecycle.
FOAMASTER NO 2331 demonstrates more effective defoaming capability than traditional mineral oil based, or silicone based defoamer in a water-based printing ink based on emulsions made with high BRC components. It has very broad global food contact ratings, capable of being used for both indirect and direct food contact applications.
DISPEX ULTRA FA 4437 is a silicone-free, nonionic wetting and dispersing agent, designed specifically for aqueous systems such as water-based inks and coatings. It serves as both a surface-active flow additive and a color acceptance improver, enhancing dispersion stability; particularly effective on difficult-to-wet surfaces, improving leveling and uniformity. Its emulsifying properties help eliminate issues like craters, fisheyes, pinholes, and streaks caused by incompatible formulation components.
HYDROPALAT WE 3120 is a low-foaming wetting agent, specifically designed for use in aqueous formulations such as printing inks, paints, and adhesives. Ideal for high-shear applications where foam suppression is critical, such as inkjet or flexographic printing. It significantly reduces dynamic surface tension, improving substrate wetting and leveling, but also provides antifoaming properties in many systems.
LOXANOL CA 5310 is an emission-free film forming agent for use in low-VOC aqueous formulations, including inks, coatings, and construction products. It is a 100% active, pale-yellow liquid derived from renewable raw materials, making it a sustainable alternative to traditional VOC-contributing co-solvents.
This packaging innovation is just a part of BASF’s broader sustainability strategy. In addition to product innovation, BASF is actively working to reduce its environmental footprint. The company is targeting a 25% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and is aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. BASF is also advancing its circularity strategy, aiming to double revenue from loop solutions to €10 billion by 2030. With sustainable product sales already exceeding €22 billion, BASF continues to demonstrate that environmental responsibility and commercial success can go hand in hand.
For more information about BASF’s complete bio-renewable content portfolio, please visit the Joncryl BRC, Additives with Biorenewable content pages and explore our brochure. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at resins_NA@BASF.com, formulation-additives-nafta@basf.com