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BASF’s biomass balance approach at Circularity 2023
From left to right: Jordan Keller, Simon Schwarzwald, Michelle Lea and Denise Hartmann.
The transition to a bio-economy is a key pillar for industrial net zero production, growth and development. Products made from renewable raw materials (biomass) directly and indirectly reduce fossil carbon usage all over the world.
The chemical industry is one of the most carbon-intensive industries, which means a gradual reduction of fossil feedstock usage must be the overall goal. Searching for strategies to create circular models throughout the value chain is one of the ways to achieve this goal. Thus, BASF, as a major driver of sustainable solutions, is turning to products derived from renewable raw materials, which reduce both the dependence on fossil resources and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
By applying the biomass balance (BMB) approach, BASF can incorporate bio-based feedstocks into the existing chemical supply chain to make a positive environmental impact without compromising product quality.
In June, BASF took part in Circularity 2023, “the leading convening of professionals building the circular economy,” and organized a panel session with special partners to discuss opportunities and challenges of the biomass balance (BMB) approach.
Biomass balance for Partners along the value chain: Certification & Cooperation
After a positive response from the European market towards BMB, this approach is gaining momentum in North America. BASF is partnering with stakeholders along the value chain to support this fast way of turning towards renewable feedstock: REDcert, as certification partner for sustainable biomass, was represented in the panel by Simon Schwarzwald. Michelle Lea, Vice President of Global Marketing for fiber manufacturer Nilit explained the benefit of choosing a BASF BMB product for the new Zara collection in the panel. They were accompanied by Denise Hartmann, BASF’s Senior Vice President of Dispersions Americas, who also showcased the importance of BMB in her business and Jordan Keller, Manager of Biomass Balance Solutions for North America at BASF, who moderated the session.
Even though, at first sight, BMB seems highly complex, it is essentially the replacement of fossil feedstock by bio-based feedstock, while keeping identical product properties. This allows for subsequent attribution of sustainability characteristics. By continuously increasing the share of products that support the replacement of fossil resources with biogenic resources, BMB can speed up the transition to a circular bio-economy.
Whether bio-based or biomass balanced: for the planet, it makes no difference.
“Since BMB products do not differ chemically from conventionally produced products, they are drop-in solutions for the customer”, Denise Hartmann puts it. “This is because, at BASF, the new feedstock is integrated at the beginning of the value chain and mixed with conventional feedstock in existing assets: No new production processes or plants are necessary as long as the availability of renewable feedstock is still low. Certification is done via established certification schemes like REDcert.
“Two of our eight plants in North America have been REDcert certified and thus meet the necessary BMB criteria”, Hartmann adds. And BMB manager Keller comments: “REDcert certification plays an important role for the credibility of mass balance and biomass balance.”
Schwarzwald explains that in other areas like forestry, the ability to increase the integration of sustainable material via a mass balance approach is well-proven and certification schemes, as well as independent third-party certification, are well-established. “Mass balance is an easy way to start when it comes to facing climate change. It is the impact that counts. The planet does not care whether we use bio-based or biomass-balanced materials.”
Thus, the BMB approach perfectly complements segregated bio-based production in a phase, when “there isn't enough biogenic feedstock existing today to replace the fossil feedstock in industry.”, as Hartmann explains.
In this early stage of the transformation of the chemical industry towards a reduction of fossil feedstock, the biomass balance approach is one positive path forward. The small amounts of bio-based feedstock available now can be mixed with the conventional feedstock and can be seamlessly increased as availability grows with the potential to switch to segregated biobased products in the future. This combines flexibility with a proven reduction of the product carbon footprint and thus contributes to BASF customers’ Scope 3 emission reduction goals.
“Existing certified companies like BASF are ramping up production and using more sustainable material. I think we all agree that starting sooner than later is essential, and using sustainable materials instead of fossil materials at any point is always to be preferred,” Schwarzwald adds.
BASF & Nilit: Creating an impact by developing BMB solutions together
A recent collaboration BASF had for biomass balance has been with Nilit and Zara. In 2023, the three companies came together to develop a capsule collection composed almost exclusively of polyamide (96%). Nilit produced this polyamide from BASF's adipic acid, which in turn was created using fermented organic waste as feedstock.
Michelle Lea widens the view when explaining the concept to Nilit customers: “We can talk about other industries that have used mass balance concepts like green electricity, for example”.
She is especially excited about the environmental impact that is achieved with the simple drop-in solutions where no investment or change in process is needed on the fiber producer’s side. So, the time-to-market is extremely short.
The new Zara collection offers the end-consumer textiles with a clear GHG emission reduction and a reduced carbon footprint. In Lea's words, "This new brand supporting the reduction of dependency on fossil rounds off our portfolio of different sustainable solutions.”
Conferences such as Circularity offer an opportunity to showcase the solutions we provide our customers and partners. At BASF we want to continue paving the way towards a circular economy through solutions such as the biomass balance approach, cementing our journey towards a sustainable future.
Visit BASF’s Biomass Balance Approach page to learn more about the method and solutions
Published on October 4, 2023.