BASF has just launched North America’s first commercial production of biomass balance polyether polyols at their Verbund site in Geismar, Louisiana. These polyols are positioned for sectors including automotive, and BASF says they are ISCC PLUS-certified, using a mass-balance approach in which a portion of fossil feedstock is replaced upstream by renewable or bio-circular inputs while maintaining equivalent product characteristics.
For automotive interiors, BASF is positioning of these polyols as raw materials for flexible polyurethane foam, saying they offer a drop-in solution to reduce the carbon footprint of foam formulations while maintaining the same specifications and processing characteristics as fossil-based alternatives. BASF says customers can transition without reformulation or process changes. It seems plausible for seat foam, armrests, headrests and other soft interior components under strict cost, process and durability constraints.
