Industries that depend on high-performance thermoplastics now have an option. BASF is offering the world’s first biomass-balanced polyethersulfone (PESU), Ultrason® E 2010 BMB. The innovative material reduces reliance on fossil resources, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and increases the use of renewable feedstock.
Manufacturers in sectors such as household and catering, automotive, electrics and electronics (E&E), healthcare, water, and sanitary can leverage this unique PESU to differentiate their products. Ultrason® E 2010 BMB helps companies achieve their sustainability goals while maintaining the same high performance, quality, and compatibility with existing processing lines.
Renewable Feedstock and Certified Mass Balance Approach
BASF replaces fossil raw materials with renewable feedstock at the start of production for biomass-balanced (BMB) Ultrason® E 2010. The renewable feedstock comes from organic waste, and its use is verified through a mass balance approach certified by ISCC PLUS.
By incorporating renewable feedstock and utilizing 100% green electricity, BASF significantly lowers the product carbon footprint (PCF) compared to standard PESU. This process takes place at the Ludwigshafen, Germany plant, ensuring a resource-efficient and transparent supply chain. Additionally, BASF provides PCF data to its customers, enabling them to assess and improve the sustainability of their own products.
Versatile Applications Across Industries
Ultrason® E 2010 BMB benefits a wide range of everyday applications, including reusable bottles, microwave dishes, appliances, automotive fuel parts, medical devices, E&E connectors, and consumer electronics.
Customers can adopt this sustainable PESU without modifying their existing processes. The BMB grade retains identical properties, quality, and certifications, such as those for food and water contact. This ensures that manufacturers can transition to a more sustainable material seamlessly, without requalification or process adjustments.
Commitment to Circular Solutions
“BASF is the first company to offer biomass-balanced polyethersulfone,” said Erik Gubbels from Global Business Development Ultrason® at BASF.
Gubbels added, “With this addition to our Ultrason® portfolio, we aim to support our customers in their green transformation towards circular solutions—helping them meet their sustainability targets as early as possible”.
Half of the fossil raw materials used in manufacturing Ultrason® E 2010 are replaced by ISCC PLUS certified bio-circular feedstocks. As a result, 39% of the final Ultrason® E 2010 BMB grade is attributed to renewable content.
Reliable PCF Calculation and Independent Certification
BASF has developed a digital tool to calculate the cradle-to-gate PCF for its products, including Ultrason®. This PCF accounts for all greenhouse gas emissions from raw material sourcing to the point when the product leaves BASF’s factory gate.
BASF actively reduces PCF through strategies like using green electricity and incorporating renewable feedstocks via the biomass balance approach. Independent certification confirms that BASF has replaced the necessary quantities of fossil feedstock with renewable alternatives, following ISCC PLUS requirements.
As per the press release, by providing proven sustainability benefits without compromising performance, BASF’s Ultrason® E 2010 BMB sets a new standard for high-performance thermoplastics in a greener future.
