BASF Coatings is intensifying its commitment to sustainable development by significantly expanding its range of biomass-balanced products. Building on successful launches in Europe and Asia, the company announced today its plans to introduce these eco-friendly solutions to the North American automotive refinish coatings market in 2025.

The company's innovative biomass balance approach involves substituting fossil resources with renewable raw materials early in the production process of basic chemical products. This proportion of renewable materials is then attributed to specific sales products through a certified methodology. This method allows BASF Coatings to offer high-performance products with a significantly reduced environmental footprint.

Currently, BASF Coatings boasts a comprehensive portfolio of approximately 250 sales products utilizing the biomass balance approach. These products are marketed under various names, including ReSource for automotive OEM coatings, functional texturized films, and the well-established Glasurit Eco Balance and R-M eSense brands for refinish coatings. The upcoming introduction of biomass-balanced refinish coatings in North America marks the latest step in the company's global sustainability strategy.

Dr. Markus Piepenbrink, Head of Sustainability at BASF Coatings, emphasized the strategic importance of this expansion, stating, "With the upcoming expansion of our offering for North America, we are further strengthening our commitment to sustainability. We aim to generate dual value for our customers by providing both high-performing and sustainable solutions, actively supporting their transition towards a more environmentally conscious coatings industry."

Dennis Dropmann, Sustainability Manager at BASF Coatings, who spearheads the mass balance initiative, highlighted the tangible environmental benefits of this approach. "By replacing a portion of fossil resources with renewable raw materials, we are making a significant contribution to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. In 2024 alone, our portfolio of over 250 biomass-balanced products facilitated the reduction of approximately 8 million kilograms of CO2 emissions, and we are setting our sights on reaching the 10 million kilogram mark in 2025."

The integrity of BASF's biomass balance approach is ensured through independent certification. The REDcert² certification system, specifically designed for the sustainable utilization of biomass, rigorously verifies that BASF replaces the necessary quantities of fossil resources for its biomass-balanced products with renewable alternatives. This certification provides customers with transparency and confidence in the sustainability claims associated with these products.