Chemical group BASF is taking a clear step towards biotransformation of their (meth)acrylate portfolio by switching to the production of bio-based ethyl acrylate (EA) from the fourth quarter of 2024. Thanks to a traceable C14 biocontent of 40 percent (DIN EN 16640), this reduces the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) by 30 percent compared to EA based on fossil raw materials.
In addition to the regular bio-based EA, BASF also offers a variant called bio-based Ethyl Acrylate BMB ISCC Plus. In this variant, the remaining carbon content, coming from fossil-based acrylic acid, is ISCC PLUS certified. By applying BASF's biomass balance (BMB2) approach, the carbon footprint of this product is further reduced.
BASF's bio-based EA is produced in Ludwigshafen, using only bioethanol as the alcohol source. The chemical and technical specifications of this new product are identical to those of the traditional fossil-based version. “With bio-based EA we can offer our customers an immediately applicable solution for many applications. Ethyl acrylate is a well-established product that will help our customers achieve their sustainability goals. We also want to send a clear signal to the market that we take our own sustainable transformation seriously. From Q4 2024, we will phase out fossil-based EA and only offer bio-based ethyl acrylate,” said Dr. Reiner Geier, Senior Vice President Industrial Petrochemicals Europe.
BASF's bio-based Ethyl Acrylate uses sustainable bioethanol, mainly from European sources, using grain as a raw material. BASF applies strict sustainability criteria for the use of biomass. The bioethanol that BASF purchases does not compete with food production: it is mainly produced from residual products from starch production, lower quality grain or molasses, none of which are used for food production. Grain that is not suitable for use as food or animal feed can also be used for the production of bioethanol.
Source: BASF
