BASF’s Intermediates division has now introduced new product variants with a reduced Product Carbon Footprint (rPCF) for butanediol (BDO), tetrahydrofuran (THF), polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF), and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), which are manufactured at the integrated site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. From there, the products can be shipped worldwide. The business unit is thus expanding the rPCF product category, which is currently under development.

The reduced CO2 footprint is achieved through the use of low-emission raw materials and process energy at the Ludwigshafen site. As a result, the rPCF variants offer a CO2 footprint that is at least 10 percent lower compared to the corresponding standard products from Ludwigshafen.

Supporting customers on their path to lower-emission materials

With the new rPCF variants for BDO, THF, PolyTHF, and NMP, BASF is expanding its portfolio of intermediates with a reduced carbon footprint and helping customers further reduce their Scope 3 emissions. Customers in industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, and consumer goods can thus benefit from raw materials with a reduced carbon footprint without having to adapt existing formulations or production processes.

“In many industries, we are seeing growing demand for cost-effective products with a reduced carbon footprint that help our customers meet market requirements and achieve their sustainability goals,” says Verena Siegel, Vice President of Global Business Management for Butanediol and Derivatives in BASF’s Intermediates division. “Our new rPCF variants enable customers to achieve measurable PCF reductions of at least 10 percent—without adding complexity to their processes.”

Key raw materials in many value chains

BDO is used to manufacture PolyTHF as well as to produce THF and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) for pharmaceutical applications. It also serves as a starting material for NMP and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). BASF is one of the world’s leading producers of BDO and its derivatives and operates two production facilities with a total annual capacity of 350,000 metric tons.

PolyTHF is primarily used to manufacture elastic spandex and elastane fibers for textiles such as swimwear and sportswear, underwear, shirts, and stretch jeans. It is also a key component of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), which are used in abrasion-resistant hoses, films, and cable sheathing—particularly in the automotive sector. Other applications include polyether esters, polyether amides, and cast elastomers, such as for the wheels of skateboards and inline skates. With three production sites in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific and a total capacity of 250,000 metric tons per year, BASF is one of the world’s leading suppliers. PolyTHF is a BASF brand in many countries.

NMP is an aprotic, highly polar organic solvent used in many industries. Applications range from pharmaceutical production and the manufacture of specialized filtration membranes to the processing of lithium-ion batteries. It is also used in coatings, inks, and resins, as well as in agricultural formulations and certain oil and gas production processes.

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