Technological watch

• More sustainable polycarbonates and polyurethane raw materials
• Gradual conversion of production in Europe planned
• Drop-in solution for customers with constant product quality

This infographic schematically shows the process chain starting from bio-based raw materials to renewable polycarbonate based on a consistently ISCC Plus certified mass balance. © Covestro



Covestro has now received ISCC Plus mass balance certification for its Antwerp and Krefeld-Uerdingen sites. This means the company can now offer its customers large product volumes of the high-performance plastic polycarbonate made from renewable attributed raw materials in the same good quality as fossil-based polycarbonate. The polyurethane raw material methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) from Krefeld-Uerdingen and its precursor aniline from the Antwerp plant are now also available with ISCC Plus certification.

“With the mass balance certification across the entire value chain, we want to achieve complete transparency, also for our customers,” says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Covestro. “At the same time, we are helping them to reduce their own carbon footprint and are offering them a drop-in solution that they can instantly implement in their existing production processes without the need for technical modifications.”

Systematic tracking of the supply chain“With the gradual conversion of our production to renewable raw materials, we are helping to drive carbon in circles and are coming closer to our vision of circularity,” explains Dr. Klaus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Covestro. “The raw materials we use meet the high sustainability requirements of the ISCC Plus Standard throughout the entire supply chain.”

As part of a strategic cooperation, Covestro received a first shipment of ISCC-Plus certified phenol from Borealis in October, which was produced from renewable hydrocarbons from Neste. Phenol is an intermediate product for polycarbonate. Consequently, this means that the supply chain from the originally used waste and residual oils and fats to the plastic is now fully ISCC Plus certified. Polycarbonate is used in high-quality applications in the automotive and electronics industries, among others.

Covestro’s renewable high-performance plastic polycarbonate can be used, among other things, to produce innovative luminaires with novel edge-light effects. © Covestro



Gradual conversion to renewable raw materialsThe certification of the plastic as well as the intermediate product MDI strengthens the use of alternative raw materials at Covestro. MDI is used to produce rigid polyurethane foam, which has been providing efficient thermal insulation for refrigeration appliances and buildings for decades. Gradually converting to renewable raw material sources is part of a comprehensive program with which Covestro, in collaboration with its partners, aims to drive forward the transition to a Circular Economy and become fully circular itself.

ISCC (“International Sustainability and Carbon Certification”) is an internationally recognized system for the sustainability certification of biomass and bioenergy. The standard applies to all stages of the value chain and is recognized worldwide. ISCC Plus includes further certification options for technical-chemical applications, including plastics made from biomass.

About CovestroWith sales of EUR 12.4 billion in 2019, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main industries served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, healthcare and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 17,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) as of the end of 2019.

Source: Covestro, press release, 2021-01-14.