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Isocyanates and Polyols

Biomass Balance Approach

Saving valuable resources and reducing CO2 emissions:

BASF’s biomass balance approach (BMB) scores on both counts. The concept promotes the use of renewable raw materials in BASF’s Production Verbund and can be applied to most of the products in BASF’s portfolio, including our polyurethane base products, such as BASF isocyanates and polyols. They are marketed as our BMBcertTM portfolio.

Maximum insulation performance with minimal fossil raw materials

Maximum insulation performance with minimal fossil raw materials

A beacon for our biomass balance approach is the use of our Lupranat M70R BMB at the German company Bauder. This isocyanate is an important component of BauderECO, a sustainable insulation material. Bauder ECO combines a sustainable facer material with recycling and an exceptional high amount of biobased raw materials, attributed using the mass balance approach. Therefore, the insulation board BauderECO offers maximum insulation performance with minimal use of fossil raw materials.

In the BMB approach from BASF organic waste is used to replace fossil resources. A wide range of products can thus be manufactured in a more sustainable way. 

Measurably improved CO2 balance

Measurably improved CO2 balance

The BMB approach is applied to many BASF products, such as superabsorbents, dispersions, plastics, and intermediates. The resulting biomass-balanced products offer BASF customers differentiation options, such as a measurably improved CO2 balance or savings in fossil resources. Customers can count on the same product quality and performance and benefit from the sustainable drop-in solution, i.e. a sustainable substitute for a fossil raw material. In this way, we are contributing to environmental protection together. 
Biomassenbilanz-Ansatz

In a nutshell: the advantages of the biomass balance approach: 

  • 100% substitution of fossil raw materials with renewable resources in the value chain
  • Significant reduction of the carbon footprint compared with conventional BASF products
  • Drop-in solution: same quality and properties compared with conventional BASF products
  • Available for a wide range of monomers. A list with the overview can be found here: Isocyanates / Polyols
  • Biomass balance approach certified in accordance with recognized standards such as REDcert2 
Methodology: how does the BMB approach work?

Methodology: how does the BMB approach work?

With the development of the biomass balance approach for the use of renewable raw materials in the chemical industry, BASF has broken new ground. This approach allows fossil raw materials to be replaced by renewable raw materials in BASF’s Production Verbund. In contrast, certificate trading completely separates the use of biomass from BASF’s own product manufacturing. 

Certified renewable raw materials
In the biomass balance method, renewable raw materials such as bio-naphtha and biomethane derived from organic waste, agricultural products, or vegetable oils are used as a feedstock in the manufacture of basic chemical products. The proportion of bio-based raw materials is then allocated to specific sales products according to the certified method. 

Independent certification
BASF has established a closed control chain that extends from the renewable raw materials used all the way to the end product. Independent certification confirms that BASF has replaced the required quantities of fossil resources with renewable feedstock for the biomass-balanced product sold. BASF’s monomers division has major sites and more than 200 products already RedCert2 or ISCC+ certified today. It aims to have additional sites certified in all regions and will continue to expand its portfolio of certified mass balanced products for its customers worldwide.


Would you like to find out more? Then watch our video on the BMB approach here.