quantities of renewable feedstock for the products they purchase [3]. The resulting
products are called “Biomass balanced products”. They are technically identical to
their fossil comparatives but they are associated with quantifiably lower greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions due to the renewable feedstock used. The biomass balance
chain-of-custody method is applicable to almost all products in BASF’s portfolio,
for example Acronal® binders used for premium decorative paints. To date, more
than 50 BASF products have already been certified, and several of them have been
introduced into the market, thus contributing to sustainable development by saving
fossil resources and reducing GHG emissions. BASF has received great attention
thanks to the biomass balance method and has been selected as finalist for the “The
Circulars 2017 Award” in the category “Multinational”. The biomass balance
method enables BASF to react quickly and flexibly to the increased interest to use
renewable raw materials thus helping customers to differentiate in the market.
2 Biomass Balance in Chemical Processes
Comprehensive experience about mass balance methods is already available in
other markets, especially in the biofuel, biogas and bioenergy markets [4].
Therefore, only minor adaptation to existing standards is needed for using BASF’s
biomass balance method in chemical production.
The system boundary is defined as the integrated chemical production system,
which represents a physically interconnected arrangement of production sites at the
same location, or the physical interconnection of operating facilities over different
locations by means of dedicated transportation systems (e.g. pipelines, rolling
pipelines).
Only sustainably sourced biomass or bio-based products are used to replace
fossil comparatives to manufacture intermediates and final products. Bio-based
renewable feedstock may strongly differ in value for a chemical synthesis. In order
to make renewable feedstock of varying “chemical value” comparable to fossil
feedstock, we introduced a correction factor for each raw material similar to the
biofuel sector. BASF uses the lower heating value (LHV) as the most appropriate
one. Therefore, each consignment of raw material entering the system boundary
(i.e. the input) is assessed according to its LHV.
The exchange of fossil raw materials with bio-based feedstocks for production
allows for new claims. For example, according to the TÜV SÜD standard [3] the
following sales claim is certifiable for BASF and customers: “Fossil resource saving
product. 100% of the fossil feedstock required for the manufacturing of this product
was replaced in the production site by renewable raw materials.”
Only renewable feedstock that enters in intermediates or products is eligible for
the biomass balance chain-of-custody method. Raw materials needed for generating
energy as steam or electricity are not counted.
Biomass Balance: An Innovative and Complementary Method …
103
products are called “Biomass balanced products”. They are technically identical to
their fossil comparatives but they are associated with quantifiably lower greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions due to the renewable feedstock used. The biomass balance
chain-of-custody method is applicable to almost all products in BASF’s portfolio,
for example Acronal® binders used for premium decorative paints. To date, more
than 50 BASF products have already been certified, and several of them have been
introduced into the market, thus contributing to sustainable development by saving
fossil resources and reducing GHG emissions. BASF has received great attention
thanks to the biomass balance method and has been selected as finalist for the “The
Circulars 2017 Award” in the category “Multinational”. The biomass balance
method enables BASF to react quickly and flexibly to the increased interest to use
renewable raw materials thus helping customers to differentiate in the market.
2 Biomass Balance in Chemical Processes
Comprehensive experience about mass balance methods is already available in
other markets, especially in the biofuel, biogas and bioenergy markets [4].
Therefore, only minor adaptation to existing standards is needed for using BASF’s
biomass balance method in chemical production.
The system boundary is defined as the integrated chemical production system,
which represents a physically interconnected arrangement of production sites at the
same location, or the physical interconnection of operating facilities over different
locations by means of dedicated transportation systems (e.g. pipelines, rolling
pipelines).
Only sustainably sourced biomass or bio-based products are used to replace
fossil comparatives to manufacture intermediates and final products. Bio-based
renewable feedstock may strongly differ in value for a chemical synthesis. In order
to make renewable feedstock of varying “chemical value” comparable to fossil
feedstock, we introduced a correction factor for each raw material similar to the
biofuel sector. BASF uses the lower heating value (LHV) as the most appropriate
one. Therefore, each consignment of raw material entering the system boundary
(i.e. the input) is assessed according to its LHV.
The exchange of fossil raw materials with bio-based feedstocks for production
allows for new claims. For example, according to the TÜV SÜD standard [3] the
following sales claim is certifiable for BASF and customers: “Fossil resource saving
product. 100% of the fossil feedstock required for the manufacturing of this product
was replaced in the production site by renewable raw materials.”
Only renewable feedstock that enters in intermediates or products is eligible for
the biomass balance chain-of-custody method. Raw materials needed for generating
energy as steam or electricity are not counted.
Biomass Balance: An Innovative and Complementary Method …
103