BASF adds ISCC EU certification to certified biomass-balanced methanol portfolio
- Biomass-balanced1 methanol now certified under four internationally recognized sustainability certification schemes
- Flexible certification portfolio tailored to diverse market requirements in chemical industry and biofuel market
- Certified methanol products support customers in reducing fossil feedstock use and achieving their sustainability targets
BASF has broadened its offering for certified biomass-balanced methanol products by adding the ISCC EU certification2 to its existing portfolio. Since mid-2025, BASF’s Intermediates division has been supplying biomass-balanced methanol that is certified under ISCC EU, enabling BASF to meet the full range of certification requirements across both the chemical and biofuel sectors. For the chemical industry, methanol is certified under the ISCC PLUS and REDcert² standards3, while ISCC EU and REDcert-EU4 certifications address the specific regulatory needs of the biofuel sector. This comprehensive certification framework allows BASF to support its customers in different industries to achieve their sustainability goals and comply with regulatory requirements.
The ISCC EU certification validates that BASF’s biomass-balanced methanol meets stringent EU sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions criteria under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), while also adhering to broader ecological and social requirements that go beyond the RED III legal requirements.2
“With the addition of ISCC EU certification, we are now ideally positioned to serve both chemical and biofuel industry customers with a flexible, credible, and independently verified offering. Initial market feedback has been very positive, particularly from several of our strategic partners,” says Holger Suhren, Senior Account Manager at BASF’s Intermediates division.
Vasilios Galanos, Senior Vice President Europe at BASF’s Intermediates Division, adds: “The fact that we’ve already successfully generated business with ISCC EU Methanol confirms that we’re on the right track. This expansion not only reflects our commitment to sustainability but also helps us reach our ambition of being the preferred partner for sustainable intermediates for our customers.”
Methanol is a key industrial intermediate for various products including plastics, pharmaceuticals, crop protection agents and fuel additives. Its biomass-balanced version is chemically identical to the fossil-based counterpart and can be used as a drop-in solution without requiring changes to customer formulations or processes. The biomass-balanced methanol products reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions significantly compared to BASF’s fossil-based methanol5 and thus support customers in reaching their emission reduction targets.
The biomass-balanced methanol products are an important part of BASF’s broader biomass-balanced product offering. These products help customers to reduce their reliance on fossil resources and support their transition to more sustainable value chains without compromising on quality or performance.
1 In BASF’s biomass balance (BMB) approach, fossil raw materials required for the manufacture of BASF products are replaced with renewable feedstock along the integrated production chain. The corresponding share of renewable material is attributed to the specific sales product via a certified mass balance approach. Production methods of this kind save fossil resources and reduce CO2 emissions at the same time. Both the BMB approach and biomass balanced products are independently certified according to REDcert2 and ISCC PLUS for the chemical industry as well as REDcert-EU and ISCC EU for the biofuels industry. Renewable feedstock is not traceable in the BASF product.
2 For more information on the ISCC EU certification
3 REDcert2 and ISCC PLUS are sustainability certification schemes for the use of sustainable biomass as raw material in the chemical industry. A certification according to these certification schemes confirms that the biomass used is sustainable and has been fed into the production system in the required amount. It also confirms that the sustainable biomass has been correctly attributed to the corresponding sales products. The certifications are awarded on the basis of on-site audits conducted by independent auditors.
4 REDcert-EU methanol is certified according to the REDcert standard. The certificate, which was founded by leading associations and organizations of the German agricultural and biofuel industry, proves the sustainable origin of the biomass used and the information on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It is a standard for use as biofuel, recognized by the European Commission under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).
5 For ISCC PLUS and REDcert² the GHG-Emissions are significantly lower compared to BASF’s fossil-based methanol. BASF’s PCF calculations follow the requirements and guidance given by ISO 14067:2018. In a methodology review, TÜV Rheinland has certified that the PCF methodology SCOTT developed and used by BASF SE for calculating the PCFs of BASF products is scientifically-based, is in accordance with ISO 14067:2018 and the Together for Sustainability PCF Guideline, and reflects the state of the art. ISCC EU and REDcert-EU requirements for GHG-emissions underly the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (CL2018L2001EN0040020.0001.3bi_cp 1..1) as described by ISCC respectively REDcert in their specific documents
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