BASF has broken new ground with the development of the biomass balance approach (BMB) for the use of renewable raw materials in the chemical industry. This approach allows fossil raw materials to be replaced by renewable feedstock in BASF's production Verbund.
In the course of the biomass balance process, renewable raw materials such as bio-naphtha or bio-gas from organic waste or vegetable oils are already used as raw materials in the production of basic chemical products. The proportion of bio-based raw materials is then allocated to specific sales products according to a certified calculation method. This production method saves valuable resources and at the same time reduces CO2 emissions. The biomass-balanced product Styrodur® BMB thus protects the environment and climate without losing its usual quality: Compared with its fossil counterpart, it is identical in terms of formulation and properties.
BASF has established a closed control chain. This extends from the renewable raw materials used to the end product. An independent certification confirms that the quantities of fossil resources required for the sold biomass-balanced product have been replaced by renewable raw materials. The certification of all biomass-balanced products was updated to the new European REDcert2 standard of the chemical industry at the end of 2019.