BASF introduces biomass balance flexible polyurethane foam systems for the North American furniture industry

• BASF aims to integrate a range of biomass balance (BMB)^[1] products into the polyurethanes value chain to meet the sustainability needs of the North American furniture industry
• Potential for reduced product carbon footprint (PCF) emissions up to 75% compared to BASF conventional flexible polyurethane foam systems^[2]

WYANDOTTE, MI, March 27, 2025 – BASF is expanding its product portfolio for the furniture industry with the introduction of biomass balance grades of Elastoflex^® polyurethane systems. These mass-balanced products are REDcert2^[3] certified, along with many BASF sites, including the recently certified Livonia, Michigan site.

“Supporting our customers with their sustainability goals is a top priority for us,” said Staci Wegener, Business Director for Polyurethanes at BASF North America. “With our new biomass balance offerings, our customers will now receive products that replace fossil feedstocks with renewable feedstocks and have the potential to achieve a significantly reduced product carbon footprint compared to conventional polyurethane foam systems.”

Elastoflex polyurethane foam systems are formulated to produce flexible foam for various furniture applications, including seating, headrests, and armrests. The unique structure of the foam provides ideal body support while delivering optimum comfort.  The Elastoflex BMB grades have the same properties and performance as their conventional equivalents, necessitating no changes to traditional processing methods.  

Elastoflex is a registered trademark of BASF SE.

[1] Biomass balance method (BMB): Fossil raw materials required for the manufacture of BASF products are replaced with renewable feedstock along the integrated production chain. The corresponding share of renewable material is attributed to the specific sales product via a certified mass balance approach. Production methods of this kind save fossil resources and reduce CO2 emissions at the same time. Renewable feedstock is not traceable in the BASF product. 

[2] The product carbon footprint (PCF) calculations follow the requirements and guidance given by ISO 14067:2018 and are based on comparisons between BASF conventional and BASF BMB products.

[3] REDcert2 is a sustainability certification scheme for the use of sustainable biomass as raw material in the chemical industry. A certification according to these certification schemes confirms that the biomass used is sustainable and has been fed into the production system in the required amount. It also confirms that the sustainable biomass has been correctly attributed to the corresponding sales products. The certifications are awarded on the basis of on-site audits conducted by independent auditors.

More information: Sustainability in Furniture

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $19.7 billion in 2024. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

About BASF’s Performance Materials division

BASF’s Performance Materials division leads the transformation of the plastics industry by merging sustainability with a competitive edge. Our broad material competencies and product portfolio, backed by deep industry understanding, make us the ideal one-stop-shop. With dedicated material-focused teams and strong R&D power, we deliver industry-leading technologies and expertise to our customers worldwide. Our global network ensures a competitive advantage through superior innovations, regional proximity, and tailor-made solutions that meet local market demands. We are committed to enhancing performance and efficiency across sectors such as automotive, consumer goods, industrial applications, and construction. With BASF, our partners embark on #OurPlasticsJourney towards a more circular and sustainable future. In 2024, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €6.8 billion.

Join #OurPlasticsJourney on LinkedIn  https://on.basf.com/PM_LinkedIn and in our newsletter  https://on.basf.com/PM_Newsletter. Further information at https://www.performance-materials.basf.com.