Protecting polymer dispersions from microbiological attack is an ever-present issue. In light of the latest restrictions on usable substances, it has become increasingly important and challenging to develop biocidal formulas capable of ensuring product shelf life, always seeking the best balance between costs and benefits. Vinavil R&D team has worked extensively on this topic, optimizing existing formulas, enhancing them in certain sensitive products, and, at the same time, reducing the biocide content in many products where this has been proven to be possible, with a view to both cost savings and sustainability. Meanwhile, the search for alternatives to meet the needs of certain particularly sensitive markets continues, for example by testing innovative biobased biocides or the latest potential solutions for the biocide-free, with the aim of offering increasingly safe and sustainable products.