Sustainability

Circular Economy at BASF

Circular economy means decoupling growth from resource consumption. BASF is driving circular economy by making the most of the limited resources of our planet: We keep them in use for as long as possible, minimize waste and create value with renewable resources.

We contribute to close and extend the loops by developing and implementing circular solutions for the materials we source, further optimizing our operations and offering resource-efficient products and services which support our customers’ circularity journeys.

We aim to move toward a more Circular Economy by increasingly use recycled and renewable feedstocks, shaping new material cycles and creating new business models. BASF has therefore launched a new Circular Economy Program. By the year 2030, the company aims to double its sales generated with solutions for the circular economy to €17 billion. To achieve this, the company is concentrating on three action areas: circular feedstocks, new material cycles and new business models. As of 2025, BASF aims to process 250,000 metric tons of recycled and waste-based raw materials annually, replacing fossil raw materials.

BASF Research Conference 2020: Circular Economy

This year's research press conference focused on circular economy. Innovations from the chemical industry are crucial to this transformation from linear to circular value chains. BASF scientist offered exclusive insights on how to improve existing cycles or create completely new approaches for the circular economy.

Recordings and materials of the Research Press Conference on December 10, 2020

New business models

We develop new business models that meet the needs of our customers. Digital innovation will play a key role here, for example in developing track and trace solutions, or smart farming. We see this as an opportunity to enter new markets. We see potential in offering service models rather than just selling a chemical product.

Shaping new material cycles

A Circular Economy can only be achieved if circularity is planned in the product development. For BASF this starts with designing long-lasting materials with a high material value at end-of-life together with our customers. For end-of-life management, we develop additives and adhesives which improve or enable the mechanical recycling of end products. We are also working to establish product-specific recycling loops, for example for mattresses and batteries. We are working together with partners in the value chain from the collect recyclables as well as developing the technology to process the material.

Circular feedstocks

We will continue to increase the volume of renewable and recycled feedstocks from sustainable sources which we already use as drop-in solution. We expect that 250,000 metric tons of feedstock will come from recycled sources by 2025. The certified mass balance approach enables us to offer products with an allocated share of renewable or recycled feedstock. Customers can choose these products if they want to contribute to saving fossil resources and a lower carbon footprint. We also offer a bio-based portfolio, e.g. for personal care, nutrition or plastics. By offering a portfolio based on renewable and recycled feedstock, we contribute to reaching our target of €22bn sales with Accelerator products in 2025.

New Feedstocks

ChemCycling™

With its chemical recycling project ChemCycling™ BASF aims to manufacture high-performance products from chemically recycled plastic waste on an industrial scale. BASF cooperates with technology partners who transform plastic waste into pyrolysis oil. This oil is fed into BASF’s Verbund and allocated to certain sales products by using a third-party audited mass balance approach. The products have the exact same properties as those manufactured from fossil feedstock.

Biomass Balance

BASF’s biomass balance (BMB) approach contributes to the use of renewable raw materials in BASF's integrated production system and can be applied to the majority of BASF's product portfolio. Biomass balanced solutions reduce CO2 emissions and save fossil resources.

Smiling lady in a blue uniform and hat holding a bunch of red rambutan fruit

Bio-based Products

BASFs dedicated bio-based portfolio offers solutions for multiple applications. Either as substitute for a fossil alternative (so called drop-ins) to reduce the carbon footprint or new products using their unique properties.

New Material Cycles

Catalytic Converter Recycling

As a market leader, with state-of-the-art resources and a highly experienced team, BASF provides exceptional value for recovering PGM (Platinum Group Metals) from discarded automotive catalytic converter and other scrap containing PGM. Thanks to unparalleled transparency in our sample, assay, and processing, global trading and hedging services, as well as our world-renowned, independent assay lab, BASF provides the best total return on precious metal materials.

Hands of robot and human touching on global virtual network connection future interface. Artificial intelligence technology concept. ; Shutterstock ID 1169699968; Jobnummer: 112003; Projekt: PrÃ¤sentation; Endkunde: BASF SE, Lilian Hoh, Communications Performance Chemicals Europe; Sonstiges: BASF SE, GBH/IM, Matthias Baque

Additives for Mechanical Recycling

As the market leader for plastic additives, BASF supports the industry with solutions for mechanical recycling. One big challenge for the use of mechanically recycled plastic in demanding applications is the often lower and/or fluctuating technical properties of waste-based materials. Additive solutions designed for the diverse problems encountered when using recyclates can improve the material properties in order to fulfil the requirements of different applications. In many cases by using the appropriate additive package, the quality and subsequent performance of the recycled material can be restored to nearly that of virgin plastic. BASF is developing these additives to enable the plastics industry to create more value from recycled content and thus increase plastics circularity in general.

Nypel^® and Petra^®

Nypel^®and Petra^® are two offers based on mechanical recycling in North America.

Nypel^® polyamide (nylon) resins from BASF are injection molding and extrusion compounds containing recycled polyamide feedstocks and are specially formulated to combine quality, performance and processability.

Petra^® thermoplastic polyester from BASF is based on 100% post-consumer and post-industrial polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

New Business Models

Smart Solutions in Development by BASF and Security Matters Limited

To accelerate towards a circular economy, more plastic waste needs to be recovered and reused. BASF Plastic Additives supports customers in overcoming the challenges that come with increasing amounts of recycled plastics. BASF and Security Matters Limited are jointly developing solutions for plastics traceability and circularity to tackle this global challenge. Security Matters contributes its technology to enable physical and digital tracking of closed loop recycling and to authenticate sustainability claims.

Mit Hilfe der Kombination aus handlichem Messgerät, der intelligenten Datenanalyse und der mobilen App lassen sich Kunststoffe genau bestimmen und unterscheiden.

Infrared Spectroscopy (trinamiX)

trinamiX GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of BASF, has developed a mobile Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Solution to identify plastics for easier sorting. Using trinamiX technology, the diverse compositions of different plastics can be precisely determined and thus distinguished via the simple use of a portable handheld device that combines trinamiX data analysis with a mobile app. As such, recycling and recyclability are improved, paying off for both the environment and businesses alike.

Older man in a grey polo crouched down looking at his phone in a green field

xarvio™ - the Future of Farming

xarvio™ – Digital Farming Solutions offers digital products that deliver independent field-zonespecific agronomic advice enabling farmers to produce their crops most efficiently. Using xarvio™ means to have a better oversight, less risk and more reliability for planning and managing fields and field zones via the use of a mobile app. The SCOUTING, FIELD MANAGER and HEALTHY FIELDS products are already being used by farmers in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Further information about Circular Economy

Last UpdateApril 22, 2021