BASF: Intermediates with Reduced Carbon Footprint

BASF’s Intermediates division has introduced product variants with a reduced Product Carbon Footprint (rPCF) for butanediol (BDO), tetrahydrofuran (THF), “PolyTHF,” and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). The products are manufactured at the integrated Verbund site in Ludwigshafen and are available worldwide from there.

Compared with the corresponding BASF standard products, the rPCF variants have a Product Carbon Footprint that is at least ten percent lower. The reduction is achieved through the use of low-emission raw materials and process energy with lower CO₂ emissions at the production site.

The new variants are intended to enable customers to reduce their Scope 3 emissions within the value chain without having to modify existing formulations or production processes. The products are used in sectors including automotive, pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, and consumer goods.

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BDO is a key starting material for numerous chemical intermediates. It is used to produce “PolyTHF” as well as THF and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), and also serves as a precursor for NMP and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). BASF operates two production plants for BDO and its derivatives with a combined annual capacity of around 350,000 tonnes.

“PolyTHF” is mainly used to produce elastic spandex and elastane fibers, which are used, for example, in swimwear and sportswear, underwear, and stretch textiles. It is also an important building block for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), which are used in abrasion-resistant hoses, films, and cable sheathing, among other applications. Additional fields of application include polyetheresters, polyetheramides, and cast elastomers. BASF operates production sites in Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region with a total capacity of around 250,000 tonnes per year.

NMP is an aprotic, highly polar organic solvent with a broad range of industrial applications. It is used, among other things, in pharmaceutical production, in the manufacture of filtration membranes, and in the processing of lithium-ion batteries. Other applications include coatings, inks, resins, agricultural formulations, and certain processes in oil and gas production.

The calculation of the Product Carbon Footprint of the rPCF variants of BDO, THF, “PolyTHF,” and NMP is carried out in accordance with ISO 14067:2018 and the “Together for Sustainability – Product Carbon Footprint Guideline for the Chemical Industry” (Version 3.0, December 2024). Certification of the calculation is currently being conducted by TÜV Rheinland. The stated PCF reduction refers to at least ten percent compared with the respective BASF standard product in the producing region and does not include downstream emissions such as transport, further processing, or emissions at the end of the product life cycle.

More information: www.basf.com

BASF SE, Ludwigshafen

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