Sustainability News

Ludwigshafen, Germany / Chiuduno, Italy – KASK, the iconic Italian helmet brand, is using expandable polystyrene (EPS) granules Neopor^® Ccycled^® from BASF for the production of safety helmets for workers. In the manufacturing process of Neopor^® Ccycled^® fossil feedstocks are replaced by pyrolysis oil obtained from recycled post-consumer plastic waste through chemical recycling at the very beginning of the BASF value chain using the mass balance approach. This way, BASF is able to offer Neopor^® Ccycled^® with a Product Carbon Footprint reduced by approximately 90% compared to conventional Neopor^®. KASK is now using this more sustainable EPS to produce the internal shell of the Primero series as well as the internal shell of the Zenith X and Superplasma safety helmet series from the end of October 2024. These products feature the same high quality and safety performance and an improved product carbon footprint in comparison to using conventional EPS. By choosing these product series, which together cover the majority of helmets sold, KASK is able to make a positive impact on the circular economy.

BASF and AM Green B.V. have entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly evaluate and develop business opportunities for low-carbon chemicals produced exclusively with renewable energy, and the corresponding value chains in India.
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BASF is strengthening its styrene value chain at its Ludwigshafen site by expanding the production capacity of Neopor^® by 50,000 metric tons per year. This increase is aimed at meeting the growing market demand for the grey insulation material. The start-up of the new production facilities is scheduled for early 2027.

BASF celebrates the 40th birthday of Basotect^®, the world’s first melamine resin foam. It was introduced into the market in 1984 as a flame-retardant alternative to conventional foams used for sound proofing and thermal insulation in construction. Since then, customers have come to appreciate Basotect^® for its high performance and versatility: It is available in eight grades for different applications, amongst them the famous cleaning sponge, which simply rubs off the dirt without the help of cleaning agents. The thermoset foam is a symbol of BASF’s innovative power in the foams business unlocking its potential for industries as diverse as construction, automotive, public transport, cleaning, aerospace and renewable energies with a focus on safety and energy efficiency.

For next-generation power electronics, BASF has developed a polyphthalamide (PPA) that is especially suited for manufacturing housings of IGBT (insulated-gate bipolar transistor) semi-conductors. Ultramid^® Advanced N3U41 G6 addresses the growing demand for high-performance, reliable electronic components for e.g., electric vehicles, high-speed trains, smart manufacturing and the generation of renewable energy. Semikron Danfoss, a global technology leader in power electronics, now uses the BASF PPA as housing in its Semitrans 10 IGBT which can be installed in inverters of photovoltaic and wind energy systems. Due to its outstanding chemical resistance and dimensional stability, the Ultramid^® Advanced N grade enhances the robustness, long-term performance and reliability of these IGBTs.