BASF Commits to Supply BDO and PolyTHF with Low Carbon Footprint from 2024

BASF announced that it will provide low PCF (product carbon footprint) 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF®) products to the world from 2024. BASF calculated the individual product carbon footprint (PCF) of these two chemical products. The test results were compared with the market average carbon footprint assessment of the corresponding third-party products.

The analysis shows that the PCF of BDO and its derivatives (such as PolyTHF) produced at BASF's production facilities is significantly lower than the global average PCF of the corresponding third-party chemicals (all produced from fossil raw materials).

BASF is committed to becoming a net-zero CO2 company by 2050 and provides its customers with individual PCF data for all products it sells. The PCF data includes the total greenhouse gas emissions that occur before a product leaves a BASF plant and is delivered to a customer: from resource extraction to the manufacture of precursors to the manufacture of the final chemical product itself.

Efforts to promote low PCF

PCF is determined by many factors. For example, energy from BASF's own gas-fired cogeneration plants produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to other conventional energy production methods. In addition, thanks to BASF’s integrated systems and continuous efforts in operations, the production process of low-PCF intermediates has high production efficiency in terms of energy and raw material consumption. Low PCF intermediates typically use oil, natural gas or integration by-products rather than coal as the primary raw material. Due to its chemical properties, the use of coal often results in a higher carbon footprint of downstream products compared to natural gas or oil.

“Company CO2 reduction targets play an increasingly important role in the value chains we serve. With our low PCF intermediates, we are supporting our customers in achieving their targets. They can now consciously choose products with a carbon footprint well below the global market average. " Ketan Joshi, Head of Intermediates Operations at BASF,,“We are leading the way in the chemical industry to provide production transparency and we have now committed to providing customers with CO2 emissions data at the individual product level.” 

1,4-Butanediol (BDO) and polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF®)

1,4-Butanediol (BDO) is mainly used in the production of polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF®). BASF's customers use PolyTHF to produce elastic spandex and elastane fibers, which are used in a variety of textiles such as swimwear, sportswear and underwear, as well as outerwear such as shirts and stretch jeans. Elastane ensures long-term comfort and is moisture and microbial resistant. PolyTHF can also be used as a chemical raw material for the production of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which BASF customers use to make highly wear-resistant and elastic hoses, films and cable jackets, mainly for the automotive industry. Other applications include thermoplastic polyetheresters, polyetheramides and cast elastomers used in making wheels such as skateboards and inline skates. BASF, with five polyTHF production plants in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, is one of the world's most important suppliers of this versatile intermediate.

BDO is also the raw material for polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), an engineering plastic that has been successfully used in the automotive, electrical and electronics industries (BASF trade name Ultradur®). BDO can also be used as an intermediate in the production of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). Its main use is as a basic solvent for pharmaceutical manufacturing and lithium-ion battery cathodes such as electric vehicles.