Siemens and BASF collaborate to promote circular economy

Siemens Smart Infrastructure and BASF announce the launch of the first electrical safety product with components made of biomass-balanced plastics. Siemens SIRIUS 3RV2 circuit breakers, which are widely used in industrial and infrastructure applications, are now manufactured with BASF's Ultramid BMBcert and Ultradur BMBcert, where fossil raw materials at the beginning of the value chain are replaced by biomethane from renewable resources such as agricultural waste. Both materials have the same quality and performance as conventional plastics. The material switch in the production of SIRIUS 3RV2 circuit breakers will reduce emissions by approximately 270 tons of CO2 equivalent per year. Customers who use these products contribute to the circular economy and move towards a more sustainable future.

The move supports Siemens' sustainability goals in the areas of decarbonization and resource efficiency within the DEGREE framework, with the company following the science-based decarbonization targets for 1.5°C, including increasing the carbon reduction target for scope 1 and scope 2 to 90% by 2030 and applying robust ecodesign to 100% of the relevant product range by 2030.

In the coming months, Siemens plans to expand the use of sustainable materials across the wider SIRIUS industrial control portfolio. In addition to product design and functionality as well as manufacturing and supply processes, the choice of materials plays an important role in further reducing carbon emissions and conserving natural resources.

The SIRIUS 3RV2 circuit breakers meet the stringent criteria of the recently launched Siemens EcoTech label, which is designed to give customers a comprehensive view of a product's performance under specific environmental criteria. In addition to the fact that a large portion of the product housing and functional components are made of biomass-balanced plastics, the product also consumes less power over its entire service life than its predecessor.

"With our products, we help our customers improve asset performance, availability and reliability, optimize energy use, production and supply chains throughout the entire life cycle through resource-efficient and circular products. BASF is a strong partner for us, supporting us with innovations in the field of sustainable plastics," said Andreas Matthé, CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure Electrical Products.

By increasingly relying on renewable and recyclable raw materials to manufacture its products, BASF is committed to contributing to the circular economy and defossilization.

“The mass balance approach is a game-changing solution for the gradual replacement of fossil raw materials in sometimes complex production processes. The advantages of this approach are obvious: the greater the demand for alternative products, the higher the share of alternative raw materials in the production network. This is in line with our goal of achieving a circular economy and net-zero operations as quickly as possible,” explains Martin Jung, President Performance Materials at BASF. “What is also special about this project is that the SIRIUS 3RV2 circuit breakers are also used in our BASF production plants. The circuit breakers not only protect the motors, but also increase their efficiency and reliability, making a double contribution to our sustainability goals.”

The mass balance approach allows various alternative raw materials, such as biomethane, bionaphtha or pyrolysis oil, to be integrated into the value chain. The bionaphtha and biomethane used by BASF are certified as sustainable materials according to established systems such as ISCC PLUS and REDcert. The SIRIUS 3RV2 circuit breakers are proof of resource-efficient plastics production and a milestone in BASF’s "ourplasticsjourney".

“The use of such an innovative material in a safety-critical component without compromising its safety functionality and performance is a unique achievement for Siemens,” emphasizes Andreas Matthé.