BASF launches first AdBlue® product with reduced carbon footprint
German chemical company BASF announced the launch of AdBlue® ZeroPCF, the first AdBlue® product on the market with a significantly reduced carbon footprint. This innovative product has a certified product carbon footprint (PCF) of less than 0.05 kg per kilogram of AdBlue®, a stark contrast to the European market standard for fossil products, which is at least 0.4 kg.
AdBlue® is a high-purity, 32.5% urea solution used in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems of diesel engines to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. The AdBlue® trademark is owned by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (Verband der Automobilindustrie, VDA). The VDA is responsible for ensuring the quality standards of AdBlue® and for managing the use of the trademark. AdBlue® is also known as diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in some regions.
The reduction in PCF for AdBlue® ZeroPCF by BASF is achieved through the use of renewable energies and raw materials, following a mass balance approach. This approach has been certified by TÜV Rheinland based on ISO standard 14067:2018. Additionally, REDcert2, a certification system for biomass, confirms that AdBlue® ZeroPCF by BASF meets the required mass balance specifications.
ISO standard 14067:2018 is an international standard that provides guidelines for quantifying the carbon footprint of products (CFP). It specifies principles, requirements, and guidelines for the quantification and reporting of the carbon footprint of a product, based on a life cycle assessment (LCA). The standard covers both the calculation of a product’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the removals throughout its life cycle, from raw material acquisition or generation of natural resources to end-of-life disposal or recycling.
AdBlue® ZeroPCF by BASF is now available for industrial customers, such as freight forwarders and the automotive industry, as a tanker train product. This enables them to reduce their scope 3.1 footprint, which encompasses emissions from purchased goods and services. For end customers with diesel vehicles, AdBlue® ZeroPCF by BASF is available in all standard packaging sizes, including the five-litre canister.
Dr. Jens Aßmann, vice president of Nitrogen Based Chemicals & Amino Resins at BASF, highlighted the growing demand for products with reduced carbon footprints in various industries. “With AdBlue® ZeroPCF by BASF, we offer an AdBlue® solution for the transportation industry that meets this trend. In the coming months, we will also continue to expand our portfolio of new sustainable products step by step,” Aßmann said.
AdBlue® ZeroPCF by BASF is part of BASF’s sustainability roadmap for its Monomers division, which aims to develop at least one circular solution for every major product line by 2025. “Sustainable products are playing an increasingly important role in all customer industries. We support our customers in achieving their own sustainability goals with our broad portfolio of solutions with reduced PCF,” said Aßmann. This initiative aligns with BASF’s overall goal of achieving climate neutrality and net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
