For the first time, BASF is offering neopentyl glycol (NPG) and propionic acid (PA) with a product carbonfootprint(PCF)1 of zero2, calculated from cradle to gate. The products are manufactured at BASF's Ludwigshafen Verbund site and are available worldwide as "NPG ZeroPCF" and "PA ZeroPCF". BASF achieves zero PCF for NPG and PA by using renewable raw materials in its unique Verbund production system via its biomass balance sheet (BMB) approach. For NPG, BASF also uses renewable energy for production.
NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF are "drop-in" solutions: They are identical in quality and properties to the standard products, so customers can use them in their production without having to adapt their existing processes. In this way, customers can easily and efficiently reduce emissions from purchased goods or services (Scope 3), increase the proportion of renewable raw materials in the value chain and thus contribute to the transition to a circular economy.
Biomass balance approach with renewable raw materials from waste
BASF produces NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF in its production network according to its BMB approach. BASF feeds renewable raw materials into its Verbund in the first stages of chemical production and allocates a corresponding proportion of the renewable raw materials to the individual sales products using a certified mass balance method. The renewable raw material used is waste-based. BASF's biomass-balanced products are certified according to recognized standards such as either REDcert2 or ISCC plus.3 In the production of NPG ZeroPCF, BASF also uses renewable energy via corresponding certificates ("Renewable Energy Certificates", RECs).
The PCF covers all greenhouse gas emissions that occur until the BASF product leaves the factory gate for the customer: from the extraction of raw materials and the manufacture of precursors to the manufacture of the end product. On the way to its goal of achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, BASF is the first major chemical company to calculate the individualCO2 footprints of all its sales products.
Carbon Neutral label from the Carbon Trust for NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF
BASF has received the Carbon Neutral Label from the global climate consultancy The Carbon Trust for NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF. The Carbon Trust certifies products with the Carbon Neutral label that are carbon neutral either through temporary natural carbon sinks upstream in the value chain such as plants4 or through carbon credits purchased by the manufacturer. BASF achieves zerocarbon footprint from cradle to gate for NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF without purchasing carbon credits.5 The certification is reviewed annually.
Neopentyl glycol with a wide range of applications
A key area of application for NPG is powder coatings, which are particularly useful in the construction industry and for coating household appliances. The coating process with powder coatings not only emits little to no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but also reduces processing times and energy requirements. By using NPG ZeroPCF, theCO2 footprint of powder coating resins can be significantly reduced. This can help manufacturers in the construction, automotive, white goods and furniture industries to achieve their targets for reducingCO2 emissions from purchased goods or services (Scope 3).
Due to its high chemical and thermal stability, NPG has proven itself in many other applications, especially as a building block for the production of polyester and alkyd resins for various coatings and plastics. Other fields of application for NPG include the production of lubricants, plasticizers and pharmaceuticals: For example, it is used as a building block in the synthesis of hormones, cardiovascular drugs and painkillers. With decades of experience, BASF is now one of the world's most important NPG producers.
Wide range of applications for propionic acid
For decades, BASF customers have been using the completely biodegradable propionic acid as protection against mold growth in the preservation of food and animal feed. In this application, propionic acid offers economic and ecological advantages over preservation by drying or storage in airtight silos. Other areas of application for propionic acid include the production of pesticides, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceuticals, solvents and thermoplastics. With its decades of expertise, BASF is one of the world's leading producers of propionic acid.
1 BASF's Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) calculations follow the requirements and guidelines of ISO 14067:2018. TÜV Rheinland has certified in a method audit that the PCF method SCOTT, which BASF SE has developed and uses to calculate the PCFs of BASF products, is scientifically sound, complies with ISO 14067:2018 and reflects the state of the art.
2 The Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) of NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF is zero in a cradle-to-gate calculation. This takes into account all product-related greenhouse gas emissions and the biogenic uptake of the renewable raw materials used in the value chain, which are allocated to the products using a certified mass balance approach. The calculation does not include emissions from the downstream value chain, such as transportation emissions from the factory gate to the customer, emissions from further processing and emissions at the end of the life cycle (e.g. from waste treatment).
3 REDcert2 and ISCC plus are standards for the use of sustainable biomass as a raw material in the chemical industry. With regard to BASF's biomass balance approach, certification according to these standards confirms that the biomass used is sustainable and has been fed into the production network in the required quantity. It also confirms that the sustainable biomass has been correctly allocated to the corresponding sales products. The certifications are awarded on the basis of on-site audits by independent auditors.
4 A carbon sink is a natural or artificial system that removes moreCO2 from the atmosphere than it releases into it. Plants are an example of a natural carbon sink, as they removeCO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis (biogenic uptake). The raw materials used in BASF's biomass balance approach are plant-based and the biogenic uptake is taken into account when calculating the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) from cradle to gate.
5 In order to achieve carbon neutrality for NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF in relation to the entire product life cycle (cradle to grave), all emissions in the downstream value chain must be offset by the respective actors in the value chain, e.g. through the purchase of carbon credits.
