colourful plastic waste
Sustainability

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. 

Video cover of circular economy

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.

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 carenutrition 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 

The collaboration is part of BASF’s ChemCyclingTM project which focusses on chemically reprocessing post-consumer plastic waste on an industrial scale. The pyrolysis oil is fed into the BASF Verbund in Ludwigshafen, thereby replacing fossil resources. The share of recycled raw material is allocated to certain products manufactured in the Verbund by using a third-party audited mass balance approach. The products which carry the name suffix “CcycledTM” have the exact same properties as those manufactured from fossil feedstock. Customers can therefore further process them in the same way as conventionally manufactured products and use them in applications with high demands regarding quality and performance, such as automotive parts.
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.

 

Empty road surrounded with tree and green field on either sides
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 

New Business Models 

Further information about Circular Economy

Last UpdateApril 22, 2021