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.

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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.

Recordings and materials of the Research Press Conference on December 10, 2020

New Feedstocks

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.

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

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How ecovio® contributes to closing the nutrient cycle towards a Circular Economy With the certified compostable plastic ecovio®, BASF has developed a material portfolio for a variety of applications which can be used throughout the entire food cycle and thus support Circular Economy – from production via packaging and transport to the waste collection of food. Photo: BASF 2019

Certified Compostable Products

Biopolymers can make an important contribution to Circular Economy. They complement conventional plastics as special materials which offer new properties and application possibilities. They are, for example, the optimal solution for organic waste bags, compostable fruit and vegetable bags, compostable food packaging or agricultural mulch films.

Mattress Recycling

BASF has developed a chemical recycling process for used mattresses and is now conducting initial pilot tests at its Schwarzheide site. The materials are to be prepared in such a way that they can be used for the production of new mattresses. Thanks to this approach, post-consumer waste could be fed back into the product life cycle.

Circular blue light with a white and black cable plugged in for charging

Lithium-ion Battery Recycling

Our ambition is to “close the loop” with lithium-ion battery recycling for the automotive industry globally. To that end, we provide in-depth chemical and process engineering experience to ensure sustainable and cost-competitive solutions for metals extraction to produce new battery materials.

Catalytic Converter Recycling

As a market leader, with state-of-the-art resources and a highly experienced team, BASF provides exceptional value for recovering PGM (Platinum Group Metals) from discarded automotive catalytic converter and other scrap containing PGM. Thanks to unparalleled transparency in our sample, assay, and processing, global trading and hedging services, as well as our world-renowned, independent assay lab, BASF provides the best total return on precious metal materials.

Hands of robot and human touching on global virtual network connection future interface. Artificial intelligence technology concept. ; Shutterstock ID 1169699968; Jobnummer: 112003; Projekt: PrÃ¤sentation; Endkunde: BASF SE, Lilian Hoh, Communications Performance Chemicals Europe; Sonstiges: BASF SE, GBH/IM, Matthias Baque

Additives for Mechanical Recycling

As the market leader for plastic additives, BASF supports the industry with solutions for mechanical recycling. One big challenge for the use of mechanically recycled plastic in demanding applications is the often lower and/or fluctuating technical properties of waste-based materials. Additive solutions designed for the diverse problems encountered when using recyclates can improve the material properties in order to fulfil the requirements of different applications. In many cases by using the appropriate additive package, the quality and subsequent performance of the recycled material can be restored to nearly that of virgin plastic. BASF is developing these additives to enable the plastics industry to create more value from recycled content and thus increase plastics circularity in general.

Nypel^® and Petra^®

Nypel^®and Petra^® are two offers based on mechanical recycling in North America.

Nypel^® polyamide (nylon) resins from BASF are injection molding and extrusion compounds containing recycled polyamide feedstocks and are specially formulated to combine quality, performance and processability.

Petra^® thermoplastic polyester from BASF is based on 100% post-consumer and post-industrial polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Hundreds of plastic water bottles compacted together at a recycling plant

Innovative cleaning solutions for PET recycling processes

Only a part of the PET waste worldwide is being recycled and kept in the material cycle. Mechanical recycling for quality recyclate requires efficient cleaning processes.

New Business Models

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Smart Solutions in Development by BASF and Security Matters Limited

To accelerate towards a circular economy, more plastic waste needs to be recovered and reused. BASF Plastic Additives supports customers in overcoming the challenges that come with increasing amounts of recycled plastics. BASF and Security Matters Limited are jointly developing solutions for plastics traceability and circularity to tackle this global challenge. Security Matters contributes its technology to enable physical and digital tracking of closed loop recycling and to authenticate sustainability claims.

Mit Hilfe der Kombination aus handlichem Messgerät, der intelligenten Datenanalyse und der mobilen App lassen sich Kunststoffe genau bestimmen und unterscheiden.

Infrared Spectroscopy (trinamiX)

trinamiX GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of BASF, has developed a mobile Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Solution to identify plastics for easier sorting. Using trinamiX technology, the diverse compositions of different plastics can be precisely determined and thus distinguished via the simple use of a portable handheld device that combines trinamiX data analysis with a mobile app. As such, recycling and recyclability are improved, paying off for both the environment and businesses alike.

Older man in a grey polo crouched down looking at his phone in a green field

xarvio™ - the Future of Farming

xarvio™ – Digital Farming Solutions offers digital products that deliver independent field-zonespecific agronomic advice enabling farmers to produce their crops most efficiently. Using xarvio™ means to have a better oversight, less risk and more reliability for planning and managing fields and field zones via the use of a mobile app. The SCOUTING, FIELD MANAGER and HEALTHY FIELDS products are already being used by farmers in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Further information about Circular Economy