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Green Energy Manufacturing: BASF Drives Renewable Energy Use in the Plastics Industry
- BASF supports plastics processors with practical solutions: Products with improved carbon footprint make a measurable contribution to achieving their emission targets and help them meet requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
- Green Energy Manufacturing reduces the carbon footprint as a drop-in solution without requiring changes to processes or quality.
- Use cases from BOSCH and Eaton demonstrate significant CO₂ savings as well as clear competitive and cost advantages.
As sustainability becomes an increasingly important business priority, driven by growing expectations for transparency, CO₂ reduction, and circularity across the value chain, companies are looking for practical solutions to accelerate their transformation. BASF addresses these needs with the Engineering Plastics Sustainability Toolbox: a comprehensive portfolio of materials, services, and digital solutions designed to support companies with their sustainability goals and create measurable value.
With its Engineering Plastics Sustainability Toolbox, BASF makes sustainability measures in the plastics industry tangible and actionable. One key component is Green Energy Manufacturing, which provides Engineering Plastics produced using renewable energy and helps customers reduce their carbon footprint* while supporting their emission targets.
Green Energy Manufacturing refers to the use of renewable energy sources such as electricity, steam, and heat throughout all stages of chemical production. In this context, fossil energy inputs such as natural gas are replaced with renewable alternatives, while maintaining physical product quality.
Renewable steam and renewable heat are key energy carriers and contribute to a reduced carbon footprint compared to fossil-based energy carriers. At BASF, these energy carriers can be generated using renewable electricity (e.g. electric boilers and heat pumps), process waste heat, or biomethane to substitute fossil methane.
The transition is implemented as a drop-in solution, meaning that production processes remain unchanged while the carbon footprint is reduced. ** In this way, BASF not only enables a further step towards climate neutrality but also creates an advantage for companies that must comply with CSRD requirements and pursue ambitious emission targets of their own. This is particularly important because, for participants along the value chain, Scope 3.1 emissions (purchased goods and services) represent a major challenge.
Use cases and added value throughout the entire chemical product life cycle
In practice, this approach demonstrates how effective it can be when leading companies collaborate across the value chain. Eaton, a global leader in intelligent power management, is working with BASF to integrate materials with a reduced Product Carbon Footprint (rPCF).** This forms part of a broader strategy to advance Eaton’s sustainability transformation in collaboration with key suppliers while addressing evolving customer requirements.
By combining BASF’s material innovation with Eaton’s advanced manufacturing expertise, the companies are rethinking how materials can be sourced, produced, and deployed at industrial scale. Initial implementations have already been successfully launched at Eaton’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Schrems, Austria.
Because these materials integrate seamlessly into existing processes, they can be implemented without modifications to established manufacturing operations. This enables faster adoption while supporting efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of products throughout the entire value chain.
“Collaborating with suppliers such as BASF helps Eaton accelerate the achievement of our sustainability goals by reducing the carbon footprint of our high-volume electrical products – without compromising performance, safety, or manufacturing efficiency. Solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing processes are particularly important as industry scales up its decarbonization efforts,” says Riccardo Di Federico, Product Line Leader, Final Distribution at Eaton.
Germany’s automotive industry, a key sector for the country, is also undergoing profound transformation. In addition to electromobility, sustainable supply chains and responsible green sourcing are becoming increasingly important.
For this reason, BOSCH has opted for a consistent focus on Green Energy Manufacturing and views this offering as a key and necessary contribution by the raw materials industry to green transformation. For a BASF product with a reduced Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) purchased by Bosch, the quantity sourced in 2026 is expected to result in a reduction of approximately 1,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ equivalents* in carbon footprint, without requiring extensive modifications or process changes.
"As a long-standing supplier in the field of thermoplastics, BASF ensures high standards of quality and innovation for our products. In particular, their global presence and the use of carbon-reduced materials make a significant contribution to our competitiveness,” says Selina Schober, Global Supplier Key Account Manager, Global Purchasing Raw Material Plastics, Robert Bosch GmbH.
Sustainability with impact: CO₂ reduction and competitive advantages with BASF
As early as 2025, companies using BASF Engineering Plastics solutions were able to reduce their carbon footprint by around 2,000 metric tonnes per year* – a measurable contribution to climate protection that highlights the tangible value of BASF’s solutions for the environment, regulatory compliance, and competitiveness.
In addition to Green Energy Manufacturing, the BASF Engineering Plastics Sustainability Toolbox includes further targeted solution approaches that support companies achieving their individual sustainability goals. These include mechanical recycling with high-quality recyclates, as well as mass balance solutions based on the use of alternative raw materials at the beginning of the value chain. This broad range of solutions allows companies to respond flexibly to regulatory requirements and to position themselves sustainably in the competitive landscape.
BASF supports its customers in reaching ambitious climate targets, reducing their carbon footprint, and positioning themselves as responsible partners. Customer success stories demonstrate that sustainable solutions are not only environmentally viable, but also economically attractive – paving the way towards a more climate-friendly future.
* The product carbon footprint (PCF) calculations follow the requirements and guidance given by ISO 14067:2018. In a methodology review, TÜV Rheinland has confirmed that the PCF (SCOTT) methodology developed and used by BASF SE is scientifically-based, is in accordance with ISO 14067:2018 and the “Together for Sustainability PCF Guideline 2”, and reflects the state of the art (ID-Nr. 0000089121: BASF SE – Certipedia).
Further details on PCF calculations: Product Carbon Footprint as well as framework conditions and use of BASF PCF data reported via digital exchange platforms.
** Reduced PCF products incorporate active reduction measure(s) and have cradle-to-gate product carbon footprints (PCFs) that are at least 10.0% lower than the PCF of the comparable conventional BASF product reduction measures – such as electricity and/or steam from renewable energy sources – were applied, partially based on the chain-of-custody model “Mass Balance (credit method)”. At the respective BASF sites, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) have been secured and/or renewable steam has been produced to partially or fully meet the electricity and/or steam requirements for producing this product.
About BASF
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 108,000 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 around €60 billion in 2025. 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 drives the transformation of the plastics industry by uniting sustainability with high performance. Our materials expertise, deep industry know-how, and broad product portfolio make us the preferred partner for comprehensive solutions across the plastics lifecycle. With dedicated material-focused teams, strong R&D power, and a global production network close to our customers, we deliver tailored offerings that meet regional and industry-specific needs. Our products enhance performance and efficiency in key sectors such as automotive, construction, consumer goods, and industrial applications. Together with our partners, we embark on #OurPlasticsJourney towards a more circular and sustainable future. In 2025, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €6.4 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 and Green Energy Manufacturing.
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