14
January
2021
|
10:00
Europe/Amsterdam

ÃÜÌÒAV receives ISCC Plus certification for its Antwerp and Uerdingen sites

Backward-oriented supply chain fulfills high sustainability standard

Summary
  • More sustainable polycarbonates and polyurethane raw materials
  • Gradual conversion of production in Europe planned
  • Drop-in solution for customers with constant product quality

ÃÜÌÒAV has now received ISCC Plus mass balance certification for its Antwerp and Krefeld-Uerdingen sites. This means the company can now offer its customers large product volumes of the high-performance plastic polycarbonate made from renewable attributed raw materials in the same good quality as fossil-based polycarbonate. The polyurethane raw material methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) from Krefeld-Uerdingen and its precursor aniline from the Antwerp plant are now also available with ISCC Plus certification.

"With the mass balance certification across the entire value chain, we want to achieve complete transparency, also for our customers," says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at ÃÜÌÒAV. "At the same time, we are helping them to reduce their own carbon footprint and are offering them a drop-in solution that they can instantly implement in their existing production processes without the need for technical modifications.¡±

Systematic tracking of the supply chain

"With the gradual conversion of our production to renewable raw materials, we are helping to drive carbon in circles and are coming closer to our vision of circularity," explains Dr. Klaus Sch?fer, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at ÃÜÌÒAV. "The raw materials we use meet the high sustainability requirements of the ISCC Plus Standard throughout the entire supply chain."

As part of a strategic cooperation, ÃÜÌÒAV received a first shipment of ISCC-Plus certified phenol from Borealis in October, which was produced from renewable hydrocarbons from Neste. Phenol is an intermediate product for polycarbonate. Consequently, this means that the supply chain from the originally used waste and residual oils and fats to the plastic is now fully ISCC Plus certified. Polycarbonate is used in high-quality applications in the automotive and electronics industries, among others.

Gradual conversion to renewable raw materials

The certification of the plastic as well as the intermediate product MDI strengthens the use of alternative raw materials at ÃÜÌÒAV. MDI is used to produce rigid polyurethane foam, which has been providing efficient thermal insulation for refrigeration appliances and buildings for decades. Gradually converting to renewable raw material sources is part of a comprehensive program with which ÃÜÌÒAV, in collaboration with its partners, aims to drive forward the transition to a Circular Economy and become fully circular itself.

ISCC ("International Sustainability and Carbon Certification") is an internationally recognized system for the sustainability certification of biomass and bioenergy. The standard applies to all stages of the value chain and is recognized worldwide. ISCC Plus includes further certification options for technical-chemical applications, including plastics made from biomass.

Boilerplate

About ÃÜÌÒAV: 
ÃÜÌÒAV is one of the world¡¯s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. ÃÜÌÒAV supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from ÃÜÌÒAV are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.

The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, ÃÜÌÒAV aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group¡¯s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. ÃÜÌÒAV generated sales of EUR 14.2 billion in fiscal year 2024. At the end of 2024, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).

Forward-Looking Statements 
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by ÃÜÌÒAV. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in ÃÜÌÒAV¡¯s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.