Factbook

Customers in the hygiene industry are looking for products that significantly reduce their Scope 3 emissions.¹ BASF has developed HySorb^® B 6610 ZeroPCF, the first superabsorber with a zero product carbon footprint² (PCF). This was achieved by utilizing renewable energy in addition to renewable feedstock in a mass balance approach in BASF’s production process. HySorb^® B 6610 ZeroPCF is an innovative solution with no compromise on quality and performance and requiring no adaptation of the diaper production line.

BASF and Sika have jointly developed a new amine building block for curing epoxy resins, which is now commercially available under BASF’s Baxxodur^® EC 151 brand. This new development is particularly interesting for flooring applications, for example, in production plants, storage and assembly halls, as well as parking decks. Baxxodur^® EC 151 gives epoxy resin flooring solutions a low viscosity and optimum flow properties. As a result, the coatings are easy to apply and spread evenly. Compared to conventional hardeners, significantly less thinner is required, and up to 90% less volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released.³ Baxxodur^® EC 151 thus enables the production of ultra-low VOC formulations.

Together with Mount to Coast, the specialist for ultrarunning and long-distance shoes, we have developed CircleCELL™, an innovative midsole. Based on BASF’s new biopolymer ecoflex^® BMB, this midsole is 90% more durable while showing the same energy return as midsoles made of polyether block amide (PEBA), a material widely used for performance running shoes. In ecoflex^® BMB, fossil raw materials are replaced with renewable feedstock at the beginning of the production process. The renewable feedstock comes from organic waste and residual biomass and is attributed to the ecoflex^® grade via a mass balance approach which is certified according to REDcert² and ISCC PLUS.

With Cavipor^®, BASF has developed the world’s first clay foam solution for energetic optimization of buildings. The unique in-situ foam system consists of three water-based components and air. It combines the advantages of a mineral-based insulation material with the simple, safe and clean applicability of a foam system. It is non-combustible, recyclable, easy to process, and its water-based components can be handled completely dust- and fiber-free. When a Cavipor^®-insulated building is demolished at the end of its lifetime, the foam can be disposed of together with construction waste or reused as foundation material. In addition, waste foam can be reused by replacing up to 10% of raw materials in production of new Cavipor^® components.

BASF provides cleaning solutions for semiconductor manufacturing that combine excellent residue removal and sustainability. In response to the increasing demand for products using PFAS alternatives, BASF reformulated its FOTOPUR^® R solutions for leading edge chip processes – 5nm, 3nm, and 2nm technology nodes. The new formulations achieve comparable performance without intentionally added PFAS components but may nonetheless contain traces of PFAS as an impurity.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly crystalline structures with nanometer-sized pores and a large surface area. One gram of MOF material can have a surface area equivalent to that of a football field. This structure offers a high adsorption capacity for various gases, including carbon dioxide, moisture, and methane. MOFs can be used in carbon capture and removal applications, helping to significantly reduce carbon emissions in various industrial sectors including hydrogen, pulp and paper, cement, steel, aluminum and chemicals. In collaboration with Svante Technologies Inc., a Canadian provider of carbon capture and removal solutions, BASF has become the first company to successfully produce MOFs on a commercial scale for carbon capture.

Supporting our customers’ transition toward improved sustainability in agriculture is essential. BASF is therefore proactively developing new products that anticipate future regulations. With Sokalan^® CP 301, BASF has launched the world’s first readily biodegradable dispersant for crop protection formulations. Dispersants are used as additives in formulations to ensure the homogenous distribution of active ingredients, preventing particle aggregation and thus enhancing both formulation stability and efficacy. Sokalan^® CP 301 also delivers excellent performance, even with challenging active ingredients, making it the ideal choice for agricultural applications.

The flavor ingredient Isobionics^® Natural beta-Caryophyllene 80 is produced from renewable resources using cutting-edge biotechnology. Produced at very high concentration using fermentation technology, it can be found not only in citrus essential oils, but also in several other natural oils, such as ylang-ylang, black pepper, clove, guava, thyme, rosemary, peppermint, eucalyptus, cinnamon, lavender and sage. This natural product uses only renewable raw materials. Due to the fermentation process, it is independent of harvest conditions, seasonality and free of agricultural residues. It is compliant with E.U. and U.S. food grade regulations.

BASF offers the refinish industry’s most advanced basecoat lines Glasurit^® 100 Line and R-M^® AGILIS, thus increasing the efficiency of body shops and significantly lowers the overall environmental impact. The innovative formulation reduces CO₂ emissions and helps save energy with shorter process times. With the lowest level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at less than 250g/l, the basecoat systems exceed all global VOC requirements.

BASF has developed innovative LMO/NCM blends that combine the best features of both materials to enhance battery performance. LMO is known for its cost-effectiveness and ease of manufacturing, while NCM offers high energy density and excellent cycle life. By mixing these materials, BASF achieves a unique balance of cost and performance, making such blends suitable for low-cost automotive applications. The LMO/NCM blends provide fast charging capabilities, high recycling potential, and improved low-temperature performance compared to traditional LFP (lithium iron phosphate) and LMFP (lithium manganese iron phosphate) batteries. These blends are designed to be a drop-in solution for existing battery manufacturing processes, allowing for seamless integration and flexibility in meeting the diverse demands of the electric vehicle market. BASF is currently collaborating with various partners in the battery value chain to bring LMO/NCM material blends to the market in the coming years.

A new volatile organic compound/ozone converter (VOZC™) technology from ECMS is available for installation on Airbus’ A320 family of aircraft. This technology provides a sustainable and cost-effective way for airlines to mitigate fume events and minimize maintenance related to odor events. In addition to improving aircraft operational reliability, the new technology offers passengers and crew one of the cleanest cabin air solutions available today. VOZC offers a step-change improvement by removing more than 90% of the most odorous VOCs – such as valeric acid – in the bleed air entering the cabin. Unlike alternative options in the market, ECMS VOZCs are proven to clean air of ozone and VOCs and they can last for thousands of flights before needing routine service.

Axalion^® Active is the first active ingredient from the BASF R&D pipeline in the pursuit of redefining modern, sustainable pest control by balancing outstanding efficacy with beneficial safety. Through a new class of chemistry with a novel mode of action, Axalion provides long-lasting control of a broad spectrum of piercing and sucking pests, including whiteflies and aphids, while working harmoniously with beneficials and the environment when applied according to the label.