Compositions, which may be obtained by reaction of a mixture of a) 20 - 80 wt. % of one or more fatty alcohols with 8 to 22 C atoms and b) 20 - 80 wt. % of one or more ring-opened products from 1,2-epoxyalkanes with 8 to 18 C atoms with ethylene glycol, with ethylene oxide, with the proviso that the amount of applied ethylene oxide is 5 to 100 mol relative to one mole of free OH groups, present in the compounds a) and b). Said compositions are excellent emulsifiers for emulsion polymerisation and are further characterised in having good biodegradability and toxicological acceptability. Furthermore, the above are suitable for the production of aqueous lattices with improved freeze/thaw stability and improved electrolyte stability.