Automotive

Sustainable plastics solutions for the automotive industry

By 2025, it is expected that there will be 104 million cars produced in the world annually. At the same time, awareness of the need to protect our planet increases. Sustainable mobility is an immense challenge we must take on. This too is emphasized by the expected development of the legislation affecting the industry.

Ambitious CO2 fleet management, not only considering the use phase but also in the manufacturing of a vehicle, has become a focal point for engineers in product development. In addition, recycling targets must be met, which include end-of-life recycling strategies as well as use of recycled materials already in today's car production.

Stakeholders are now driving the transformation towards a Circular Economy. BASF works with customers, both TIERs and OEMs, to provide sustainable products and solutions which help to achieve their sustainability targets and market differentiation.

Our commitment 

We are fully committed to drive sustainable automotive innovations forward by partnering with players throughout the entire automotive value chain. Pilot projects as a pre-requisite towards commercialization of our offering are state of the art. Furthermore, BASF is an active member in various networks to develop and establish sustainable solutions and processes in the automotive industry.

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At BASF we actively drive future trends and find smart answers for the world’s challenges. We are strongly committed to create sustainable solutions for our automotive customers, jointly exploring endless possibilities and helping them to achieve zero emissions.  

Martin Jung

President, Performance Materials at BASF

Read more about pilot projects with Tiers and OEM, our engagement in the Catena-X Automotive Network and more:

How can I reduce CO2 upstream and in the production phase?

We offer automotive solutions to meet both - design and functionality requirements

The reduction of CO2 emissions is a crucial point for all plastics manufacturers in the production process. In addition to mechanical recycling, BASF introduced chemical recycling in 2018. Together with our partners we developed the pyrolysis technology which turns plastic waste into a secondary raw material called pyrolysis oil. We feed the oil into BASF’s Verbund production at the beginning of the value chain, thereby saving fossil resources.

ChemCycling™ and Biomass Balance Approach & case studies

How can I reduce CO2 in the use phase? 

With chemistry driven solutions for future mobility we shape mobility to be more sustainable, safer and more comfortable

A broad BASF plastics portfolio for the automotive industry provides solutions to reduce CO2 emissions in the use phase. The functional integration by automotive plastics leads to less parts in the car and thus to a significant reduction of weight. Lightweight constructions subsequently lead to less emission and/or more energy efficiency. Furthermore, we provide you with a dedicated portfolio to meet engineering ambitions for alternative powertrains.

BASF plastics portfolio for the automotive industry

BASF plastics eMobility solutions

How do I meet ambitious recycling targets?

Roundabout in the middle of a forest in Belgium. Circular road surrounded by trees.

The automotive industry is facing ambitious recycling targets. A circular economy aims to decouple growth from resource consumption and is regenerative by design. As technology open partner to the automotive industry, BASF leverages mechanical as well as chemical recycling to support the industry on its transformation from linear to circular economy.

A combination of both reycycling methods will enable circular economy for all plastics in the automotive industry.  

Mechanical recycling

ChemCyclingTM  and Biomass Balance Approach

Customer project: PU waste trunk floor

How can I substitute fossil resources by renewable resources?

We develop chemistry that drives us from A to B with a cleaner footprint.

A BASF portfolio of bio-based solutions is available using castor oil as renewable compound. As part of a new generation of systems, BASF has developed a foam system based on renewable raw materials. Elastoflex® E uses castor oil as a renewable raw material and can be used to produce complex components that are both light and thin with excellent adhesion to a wide range of surfaces. Also for Ultramid® S Balance the sebacic acid, originates from the castor oil plant. 

Elastoflex® and Ultramid®  S Balance

How can I quantify the carbon footprint of my products?

Traces of car on road. Tire print on gravel road. Imprint from the wheels.

As a plastics supplier at the heart of the automotive value chain, BASF supports its customers – wheather TIERs or OEM's – in quantifying their product carbon footprint (PCF). Depending on their needs, we support our customers with multiple methods to determine the PCF. In addition, we are actively involved in various projects and alliances to quantify and to digitalize carbon footprints across the whole automotive value chain.

Product Carbon Management

Customized sustainable products

Catena-X Automotive Network

Meet your sustainability experts

Europe

Portrait Oliver Geiger

Oliver Geiger

O.G./LinkedIn

Rie Kaneko.jpg

Rie Kaneko

R.K./LinkedIn

Portrait Raman Chaudhari

Raman Chaudhari

R.C./LinkedIn

Portrait Eric Vernet

Eric Vernet

E.V./LinkedIn

Asia Pacific

Portrait Michael Sun
Michael Sun

North America

South America

CK Headshot.jpg

Christopher Korson

C.K./LinkedIn

Sustainable products expert North America

Mohamed Bouguettaya

M.B./LinkedIn

Portrait Camila Montebelli Almeida

Camila Montebelli Almeida

C.M.A./LinkedIn

Consult with an expert

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