Safic-Alcan and Primient expand their partnership into Central and Eastern Europe with the ZEMEA® propanediol range

Building on an established collaboration in Brazil, Safic-Alcan and Primient extend their relationship to anew territory — bringing 100% bio-based ZEMEA® propanediol to formulators across the DACH regionand Central and Eastern Europe.

Paris-La Defense, July 29, 2026 – Safic-Alcan, a leading global specialty chemicals distributor, and Primient, the world’s largest producer of 100% bio-based 1,3-propanediol, have signed a distribution agreement for the ZEMEA® propanediol range across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Slovenia. The agreement began in June 2026.

Under the agreement, Safic-Alcan becomes the regional distributor for ZEMEA® propanediol, servingcosmetics and personal care formulators. The partnership pairs Primient’s bio-based ingredient platformwith Safic-Alcan’s local technical and commercial network across 10 European markets, giving regionalcustomers direct access to formulation support, regulatory documentation and supply.

ZEMEA® propanediol is a 100% bio-based, plant-derived alternative to petroleum-derived glycols suchas propylene glycol and butylene glycol. Produced from regeneratively grown industrial dent corn in theMidwestern United States, it is a multifunctional ingredient that functions as a humectant, emollient, preservative booster, solvent, viscosity enhancer, and carrier for active ingredients and botanical extracts.

It is certified 100% biobased under the USDA BioPreferred® Program, recognized by the Natural ProductsAssociation, and meets the ISO 16128 criteria for a derived organic ingredient. Compared with propylene glycol, ZEMEA® propanediol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86%, based on life cycle assessment.

The agreement responds to a clear market signal: demand for bio-based, traceable, and lowercarboningredients is accelerating across European personal care, driven by clean-beauty positioning, brand owner sustainability commitments, and tightening expectations on ingredient transparency. Backed by full life-cycle data and microbiome-friendly certification, ZEMEA® propanediol gives formulators a documented route to replace petroleum-based glycols without compromising sensory performance.

Philippe Villequey, Business Unit Director Home & Personal Care, Safic-Alcan said:

Extending our collaboration with Primient from Brazil into Central and Eastern Europe is a natural next step. We already know their bio-based platform and the depth of data behind it. Bringing ZEMEA® propanediol to formulators across the DACH region and CEE gives our customers a documented, high-performance alternative to petroleum glycols — backed by local technical support in their own markets.

Matthias Pfaffernoschke, Managing Director, Central & Eastern Europe, Safic-Alcan said:

ZEMEA® propanediol strengthens our regional portfolio precisely where the market is moving. Across Central and Eastern Europe, brand owners are reformulating toward biobased, traceable ingredients, and a 100% plant-derived, multifunctional glycol alternative answers that demand directly. With our laboratories and commercial teams close to the customer, we can turn this range into formulation wins across the region.

Marjorie Morris, ZEMEA® Global Marketing Director, Primient said:

This expansion builds on a successful partnership and reflects our shared commitment to making bio-based innovation more accessible. With a broader distribution footprint, we can accelerate the adoption of ZEMEA® propanediol—an ingredient recognized for its renewable sourcing, excellent formulation performance, and strong sustainability profile— helping customers achieve both product performance and environmental objectives.

Source: Safic-Alcan