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BASF PCF Methodology

BASF PCF Methodology

In 2020, BASF developed the digital solution SCOTT to make product-specific greenhouse gas emissions more transparent and used it to determine the carbon footprints of around 40,000 BASF sales products. These Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) include all greenhouse gas emissions - from the extraction of raw materials to the finished product leaving the factory gates ("cradle-to-gate").

SCOTT: Strategic CO2 Transparency Tool
Providing PCFs calculated with our certified digital solution

*Energy generation and chemical processes **Certipedia (Certificate Database from TÜV Rheinland)***ISO 14040:2006, 14044:2006, 14067:2018, GHG Protocol Product Standard, TfS PCF Guideline

SCOTT is based on ISO 14067:2018 and related LCA standards (ISO 14040/44), is aligned with the GHG Protocol Product Standard (WRI & WBCSD, 2011), as well as the PCF Guideline developed by Together for Sustainability (TfS). TÜV Rheinland confirms the methodology’s scientific validity and conformity.

We increasingly use supplier-specific data obtained through the BASF supplier CO2 management program.

TÜV Rheinland confirms that the PCF reduction for products certified according to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Mass Balance standard is calculated in accordance with ISO 14067 and the Together for Sustainability (TfS) PCF Guideline. The calculation incorporates a mass balance chain-of-custody approach in accordance with the applicable requirements of the TfS PCF Guideline.

Products in our EcoBalanced portfolio  have a reduced PCF due to attribution of renewable feedstocks (Biomass Balance), low-PCF feedstocks (LEAF) or green utilities via mass-balance chain of custody models. TÜV Rheinland has reviewed and certified these methodologies and confirms: 

  • For Biomass Balance (using sustainable feedstock certified under REDcert or ISCC+): PCF calculation and associated PCF reduction due to the use of biomass as feedstock for mass balance products follow conventional LCA methodological approaches as described in ISO 14067:2018 and the TfS Guideline.
  • For green utilities: the Integrated Mass Balance Management Approach developed by BASF SE for the attribution of sustainability characteristics to chemical products has undergone an independent review. The approach is based on a mass balance chain-of-custody model using the crediting of sustainable material attributes (SMAs). Each SMA represents a quantified green electricity or green steam credit that is site-specific, inventory-managed in BASF’s ERP system and governed by strict validity and attribution rules. These attributes can be used to support product-level carbon footprint calculations in accordance with recognized standards
  • For low-PCF feedstocks (LEAF): the Mass Balance Approach for products with Low Emissions Attributed Feedstocks has undergone an independent review. It follows conventional LCA and mass balance approaches according to ISO 14067:2018 and the TfS PCF Guideline for the Chemical Industry.

For our EcoBalanced products which are based on the Biomass Balance Approach: The mass balance principle allows the attribution of renewable feedstock used at the beginning of our value chain to individual sales products. This reduces the consumption of fossil feedstocks and decreases the product carbon footprint taking biogenic carbon into account. The effect depends on the product and the method used. Our EcoBalanced portfolio is certified according to the REDcert2 certification scheme and audited by TÜV Nord.