BASF Korea starts supplying biomass-balanced MDI, paving the way for sustainable MDI value chain

Recently, BASF announced that its plant in Yeosu, South Korea, has successfully produced the first biomass balance (BMB) methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). This landmark development underlines BASF’s commitment to creating a more sustainable MDI value chain.

MDI is a key ingredient in the production of polyurethane, which is widely used in the automotive, construction, electronics and other industries. Traditionally, MDI has been produced from fossil raw materials. As global demand for sustainable solutions continues to increase, BASF has now developed biomass-balanced MDI made from biomass-balanced benzene. At the beginning of the production chain, the renewable raw materials required to produce biomass-balanced benzene are already fed into the production system. A corresponding share of renewable feedstock is then allocated to the MDI via a certified mass balance method. BASF Biomass Balance products are certified according to REDcert2 or ISCC
PLUS and other recognized standards. The use of renewable raw materials in production systems helps improve customers’ product carbon footprint (PCF) along the value chain compared to conventional MDI based solely on traditional raw materials.

Claudia, Senior Vice President of BASF Asia Pacific Monomer Business
Huang said: “Biomass Balance MDI is an important step in our journey towards a circular economy. We are pleased to see customers in the region willing to join the Low Product Carbon Footprint team and collaborate with us to develop high-performance products in a more sustainable way. ”

Jens Aßmann, Vice President Sustainability of BASF’s Monomers business, said: “We are committed to offering circular or low product carbon footprint options for all our main value chains. We therefore offer the option of circularity or a low product carbon footprint in accordance with the ISCC
PLUS and REDcert2 certify our assets globally. Yeosu is our first MDI production site in Asia, where we can now produce certified biomass-balanced products. ”

Dschun, Managing Director, BASF Korea Co., Ltd.
Song also shared his insights: “By producing and supplying biomass-balanced MDI to customers in the Asia-Pacific region, BASF further expands its low-carbon footprint product portfolio in South Korea.”

The biomass-balanced MDI produced at the Yeosu plant will be supplied to customers in the Asia-Pacific region, further supporting BASF’s goal of providing sustainable solutions to meet the growing needs of customers in the region.