This certification offers BASF customers additional support in selecting products, enabling them to make more informed choices and better understand the environmental impact of BASF products within their value chains.
The Carbon Trust has recently verified four BASF intermediate: 1,6-hexanediol (HDO), formic acid (FA), propionic acid (PA) and neopentyl glycol (NPG) for having a product carbon footprint (PCF) lower than the market average. As a result, these products have received the Carbon Trust label and the Lower than Market claim – confirming their cradle-to-gate PCF is significantly lower than that of comparable fossil-based products.
BASF manufactures these products at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen (Germany). HDO is also produced at BASF's Verbund site in Freeport (Texas, United States of America), while FA is produced in Geismar (Louisiana, United States of America) and Nanjing (China). The products maintain the same quality and properties as their standard counterparts, and can be used directly in customers' existing production processes without modifications, making it easier for customers to reduce CO2 emissions from purchased goods or services.
“We are proud of the verification because it reflects our strong commitment to support our customers’ green transformation as stated in BASF’s recently announced Winning Ways Strategy. It proves that the carbon footprint of our products is demonstrably lower than the market average. This shows that we are on the right track to be the preferred partner for sustainable intermediates,” has explained Ketan Joshi, President of BASF’s Intermediates division.
In its assessment, the Carbon Trust evaluated BASF’s product carbon footprints (PCFs) in comparison to its Verified Lower Label Claim requirements. This involved reviewing BASF's PCF calculations for the verified products to ensure they are demonstrably lower than the market average for fossil-based equivalents. The Carbon Trust has confirmed that BASF’s PA, FA, NPG and HDO meet all the necessary criteria for a lower carbon claim.
“As customer awareness about the environmental impact of their product choices grows within the chemical industry, there is an increasing demand for transparency. When BASF customers encounter the Carbon Trust verification and label, they can be confident that these verified products have undergone a rigorous process to demonstrate a lower carbon footprint than equivalent offerings in the market. The verification and label are therefore powerful tools to allow customers to select products that contribute to their own emissions reduction goals,” has added Veronika Thieme, associate director, the Carbon Trust.
The BASF intermediates FA, PA, HDO and NPG are versatile chemicals used in a wide range of industries, including, automotive and coatings.
- NPG is primarily used in polyester and alkyd resins for coatings, especially in the construction industry and household appliances.
- HDO is used in industrial coatings, polyurethanes, adhesives, and as a building block for epoxy systems in wind turbine rotor blades and lightweight automotive components.
- PA is widely used as a preservative in solvents and plastics.
- FA serves in oilfield applications.