BASF advances renewable energy use in plastics
BASF presents Green Energy Manufacturing as part of its Engineering Plastics Sustainability Toolbox. The approach uses renewable energy carriers in chemical production to reduce product carbon footprints without changes to established processes or specifications.
As sustainability becomes an increasingly important business priority, driven by growing expectations for transparency, CO₂ reduction and circularity across the value chain, BASF is positioning its Engineering Plastics Sustainability Toolbox as a portfolio of materials, services and digital solutions intended to support companies in reaching sustainability targets. One component of this toolbox is Green Energy Manufacturing, which provides engineering plastics produced using renewable energy. According to BASF, the approach helps customers reduce their carbon footprint while supporting their emission targets. The concept covers the use of renewable energy sources such as electricity, steam and heat throughout all stages of chemical production. In this framework, fossil energy inputs, including natural gas, are replaced with renewable alternatives while maintaining the physical quality of the product.
Renewable steam and renewable heat are key energy carriers in the approach and contribute to a reduced carbon footprint compared with fossil-based energy carriers. BASF states that these energy carriers can be generated using renewable electricity, for example through electric boilers and heat pumps, process waste heat, or biomethane used to substitute fossil methane.
The transition is implemented as a drop-in solution. This means production processes remain unchanged while the carbon footprint is reduced. BASF presents this as a further step towards climate neutrality and as support for companies that must comply with CSRD requirements and pursue their own emission targets. The company also points to the relevance of Scope 3.1 emissions, covering purchased goods and services, which represent a major challenge for participants along the value chain.
Applications across the chemical product life cycle
BASF indicates that the approach is being applied in cooperation with companies across the value chain. Eaton, a global company active in intelligent power management, is working with BASF to integrate materials with a reduced Product Carbon Footprint. The cooperation is part of Eaton’s broader strategy to advance its sustainability transformation with key suppliers while addressing changing customer requirements.
By combining BASF’s materials with Eaton’s manufacturing expertise, the companies are examining how materials can be sourced, produced and deployed at industrial scale. Initial implementations have already been launched at Eaton’s manufacturing facility in Schrems, Austria.
Because the materials are designed to integrate into existing processes, BASF states that they can be implemented without modifications to established manufacturing operations. This enables faster adoption and supports efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of products across the value chain.
"Collaborating with suppliers such as BASF helps Eaton accelerate the achievement of our sustainability goals by reducing the carbon footprint of our high-volume electrical products – without compromising performance, safety, or manufacturing efficiency. Solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing processes are particularly important as industry scales up its decarbonization efforts," says Riccardo Di Federico, Product Line Leader, Final Distribution at Eaton.
Automotive supply chains and reduced product carbon footprint
Germany’s automotive industry is also undergoing significant transformation. In addition to electromobility, sustainable supply chains and responsible green sourcing are becoming increasingly important. Bosch has opted for a consistent focus on Green Energy Manufacturing and regards the offering as an important contribution by the raw materials industry to green transformation.
For a BASF product with a reduced Product Carbon Footprint purchased by Bosch, the quantity expected to be sourced in 2026 is projected to result in a reduction of approximately 1,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in carbon footprint, without requiring extensive modifications or process changes.
"As a long-standing supplier in the field of thermoplastics, BASF ensures high standards of quality and innovation for our products. In particular, their global presence and the use of carbon-reduced materials make a significant contribution to our competitiveness," says Selina Schober, Global Supplier Key Account Manager, Global Purchasing Raw Material Plastics, Robert Bosch GmbH.
CO₂ reduction and further toolbox elements
According to BASF, companies using BASF Engineering Plastics solutions were already able in 2025 to reduce their carbon footprint by around 2,000 metric tonnes per year. The company describes this as a measurable contribution to climate protection and as an indication of the value of its solutions for environmental objectives, regulatory compliance and competitiveness.
In addition to Green Energy Manufacturing, the BASF Engineering Plastics Sustainability Toolbox includes further targeted approaches intended to support companies in achieving individual sustainability goals. These include mechanical recycling with high-quality recyclates and mass balance solutions based on the use of alternative raw materials at the beginning of the value chain. BASF states that this range of solutions allows companies to respond flexibly to regulatory requirements and to position themselves sustainably in the competitive landscape.
BASF says it supports customers in reaching climate targets, reducing their carbon footprint and positioning themselves as responsible partners. The company points to customer examples as evidence that sustainability-oriented solutions can support both environmental objectives and economic considerations.