BASF Expands Sustainable Polyamide Portfolio

With Ultramid LowPCF (reduced CO2 footprint/“Product Carbon Footprint”, PCF**) and Ultra-mid ZeroPCF* (CO2 footprint of net zero greenhouse gas emissions), BASF launches two new product variants within its polyamide value chain in Europe.

Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced when compared to conventional products. BASF is offering its Ultramid B brand and the precursor caprolactam as ZeroPCF and LowPCF variants, as well as Ultramid C as LowPCF option.

Electricity from renewable sources is used to manufacture the LowPCF products, including from the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm in the North Sea, in which BASF has a stake. Furthermore, low-emission steam is generated by using certified biomethane instead of natural gas.

Compared to common industry benchmarks***, the PCF from raw material extraction to the factory gate (“cradle-to-gate”) is reduced by at least 30%. This PCF reduction enables the customer to reduce its Scope 3.1**** emissions in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

In order to further reduce the PCF to net zero, BASF uses renewable raw materials according to the mass balance approach. At the beginning of the production process, fossil raw materials are replaced by the corresponding amount of certified biomethane and bio-naphtha and allocated to the sales products using the mass balance approach. ZeroPCF products are certified in accordance with the ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) PLUS Standard.

“We are the first company in the world to offer both LowPCF and ZeroPCF options in the poly-amide 6 value chain. With this portfolio, we meet the increasing demand in the industry and are helping our customers to achieve their sustainability goals,” said Pedro Serra, head of sales PA6 Europe at BASF.

*Ultramid® ZeroPCF = taking into account the “biogenic uptake”, i.e. the amount of CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere during the growth of biomass and bound over the lifetime of the material. In addition to renewable electricity and low-emission steam, the biogenic uptake enables the product’s CO2 footprint to be reduced to net zero.
**PCF = The calculation of the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) for conventional products follows the requirements and guidelines according to ISO 14067:2018. TÜV Rheinland has determined in a method review that the PCF (SCOTT) methodology developed and used by BASF SE is scientifically sound, in line with ISO 14067:2018 and the Together for Sustainability PCF guideline and reflects the state of the art (ID no. 0000080389: BASF SE – Certipedia).
***Common industry benchmarks = relevant PCF values from critically reviewed LCA studies such as Plastics Europe
****Scope 3.1 = Emissions from purchased goods and services