Asahi Kasei: Carbon footprint of acrylonitrile production in Ulsan independently verified

Tongsuh Petrochemical, Asahi Kasei’s South Korean subsidiary, has had the product carbon footprint (PCF) of its acrylonitrile independently verified by Socotec Certification Japan. The verification covers fiscal year 2025 and production at the Ulsan site. It was conducted at the “Reasonable Assurance” level.

The audit covered the production facility as well as the calculation methodology, data sources, processes, documentation and reporting used to determine the PCF. The system boundary extends from raw material procurement through to production. Compared with “Limited Assurance”, “Reasonable Assurance” involves more extensive audit procedures and provides a higher level of assurance.

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Acrylonitrile is a chemical intermediate used to manufacture acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastics, acrylamide and acrylic fibres, as well as carbon fibre precursors.

Bio-based feedstocks and further development of production
Tongsuh Petrochemical has held “ISCC Plus” certification since 2021. The system supports the traceability of bio-based and circular feedstocks. Since 2022, the company has produced and marketed acrylonitrile using bio-based propylene under a mass balance approach. Under this approach, the quantities of bio-based feedstocks used are allocated to products through mass balance accounting.

Asahi Kasei aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from acrylonitrile production by further developing its own catalyst and production technologies. The company has also expanded its use of bio-based feedstocks. The release does not provide specific PCF values or quantified emission reductions.

More information:
www.asahi-kasei.com, www.tspc.co.kr/en, socotec-certification-international.jp

Asahi Kasei Corporation, Tokyo, Japan + Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany