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, serving cosmetics and personal care formulators. The partnership pairs Primient’s bio-based ingredient platform with Safic-Alcan’s local technical and commercial network across 10 European markets, giving regional customers direct access to formulation support, regulatory documentation and supply.

ZEMEA® propanediol is a 100% bio-based, plant-derived alternative to petroleum-derived glycols such as propylene glycol and butylene glycol. Produced from regeneratively grown industrial dent corn in the Midwestern 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 Products Association, 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 lowercarbon ingredients is accelerating across European personal care, driven by clean-beauty positioning, brandowner 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.

“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, highperformance alternative to petroleum glycols — backed by local technical support in their own markets.”— Philippe Villequey Business Unit Director Home & Personal Care Safic-Alcan.

“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. ” — Matthias Pfaffernoschke Managing Director, Central & Eastern Europe Safic- Alcan.

“This expansion builds on a successful partnership and reflects our shared commitment to making biobased 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.” — Marjorie Morris ZEMEA® Global Marketing Director Primient.