BASF Phases Out Fossil-Based Ethyl Acrylate and Offers Bio-Based Ethyl Acrylate

BASF recently made it clear that it will bioconvert its methacrylate portfolio and shift its production to bio-based ethyl acrylate from the fourth quarter of 2024.

BASF's bio-based ethyl acrylate has 40% 14C traceable biocontent and a lower product carbon footprint, which can help global customers achieve their sustainability goals. Compared with fossil-based ethyl acrylate, the carbon footprint of this product is reduced by about 30%.

In addition, in addition to conventional bio-based ethyl acrylate, BASF also offers bio-based ethyl acrylate BMB ISCC Plus certification. Here, the remaining carbon content from fossil-based acrylic acid is ISCC PLUS certified, and by applying BASF's biomass balance approach, this variant further reduces the product carbon footprint.

BASF's bio-based ethyl acrylate is produced in Ludwigshafen and uses only bioethanol as the source of alcohol. The chemical and technical specifications of the new bio-based product are the same as those of conventional fossil-based products.

“With bio-based ethyl acrylate, we can offer our customers ready-made solutions for a wide range of applications. Ethyl acrylate is a mature product that will help our customers achieve their sustainability goals. From the fourth quarter of 2024, we will phase out fossil-based ethyl acrylate and exclusively offer bio-based ethyl acrylate,” said Dr. Reiner Geier, Senior Vice President Industrial Petrochemicals Europe.

BASF’s bio-based ethyl acrylate uses mainly sustainable bioethanol from Europe, based on grain as raw material. BASF applies strict sustainability criteria to the material use of biomass.

The bioethanol purchased by BASF does not compete with the food industry. Its bioethanol is mainly made from starch production residues, low-quality grain or molasses, which are neither suitable for food nor feed, but can be used for bioethanol production.

Bio-based ethyl acrylate has a wide range of applications and can be used in various polymer dispersion applications, with the coatings and adhesives industries being the main target industries.