- Milestone for the improvement of the ecological footprint of Covestro
- Certification puts Covestro Brazil in the forefront of the transition towards circularity in Latin America
According to the company’s website press/media/news release on November 24, 2022, Covestro has reached another important step towards its path to circularity, with the ISCC PLUS(1) certification in Brazil for the sales of bio-2 and bio-circular(2) attributed diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and toluylene diisocyanate (TDI). With this important milestone the company is expanding its sustainable efforts in one of the biggest and most important markets in Latin America.
Such achievement serves as a clear proof point of the company´s commitment towards circularity, leading the transition within the different segments served by Covestro not only in Brazil, but also in important countries such as Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina and Costa Rica, among others.
"This is an extremely important step for us as it makes the transformation towards the circular economy tangible, supporting our customers in achieving their sustainability goals and accelerating the substitution of fossil raw materials", says Andreas Stumpf, Managing Director of Covestro Brazil.
ISCC PLUS certification contributes to more sustainable production processes and markets, increasingly encouraging the participation of supply chain entities. At a local level, the certification can make fairer work relationships, more efficient processes and promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the use of fossil resources, while expanding the possibilities for the international market, mainly the European one.
"The Brazilian certification project of Covestro shows that it is possible to contribute to more sustainable production even in complex production chains with materials of different origins and destinations. It is another important step in promoting genuinely sustainable production chains", states Felipe Bottini, founding partner at Green Domus, ISCC recognized certification body in Brazil.
Customer focus: driving mindset change in Brazil
ISCC PLUS certification enables Covestro to supply attributed MDI and TDI, attributable to bio-based as well as bio-circular raw materials, to a variety of industries, for example for composites, flexible foams for mattresses and rigid foams for refrigerators, thus expanding Covestro's supply of more sustainable raw materials, which has a direct impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
"For us, it is of utmost importance to be at the side of our customers and enhance their awareness about climate neutrality. Now, with such products, we can effectively contribute to their sustainability goals and reduction in carbon footprint", says André Borba, Marketing and Sales Manager for the Performance Materials segment in the Latin America region.
In order to reflect this commitment, and to make it even clearer how these products support its circular vision as well as the customers´ path towards sustainability, Covestro created a distinctive branding for products driving circularity.
Products carrying the CQ suffix are produced using partially alternative raw materials today – such as feedstocks from waste, biomass or renewable energy. These material solutions can be implemented via segregated or mass-balanced chains of custody. By activating multiple circular production pathways, we enable clients to increase their use of renewable resources, and lowering their overall environmental impact.
The range of solutions carrying CQ will constantly grow. The first products available are the climate neutral(3) products Desmodur® CQ 44V70L MS and Desmodur® CQ 44V20L MS from Covestro, as well its Desmodur® CQ 44V70L MB, Desmodur® CQ 44V20L MB and Desmodur® CQ T80 with a significantly improved carbon footprint. The abbreviation ‘CQ’ stands for circular intelligence. Together, C and Q underline how essential thought-leading, innovative solutions can drive circularity forward.
1 ISCC ("International Sustainability and Carbon Certification") is an internationally recognized system for sustainability certification of biomass and bioenergy, among others. The standard covers all stages of the value chain and is widely used worldwide. ISCC PLUS includes further certification options for technical-chemical applications, among others, including plastics from biomass.
2 Biological and bio-circular attributed MDI and TDI are assigned biological raw materials as well as wastes and residues of biological origin based on a mathematical algorithm using the mass balance method.
3 Carbon neutrality is the result of an internal assessment of a partial product life cycle from raw material extraction (cradle) to the factory gate (Covestro gate), also known as cradle-to-gate assessment. The methodology of our life cycle assessment is based on ISO standards 14040 and 14044.
About Covestro:
Covestro is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. Covestro supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from Covestro are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, cosmetics and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.
The company is committed to becoming fully circular and is striving to become climate neutral by 2035 (scope 1 and 2). Covestro generated sales of EUR 15.9 billion in fiscal 2021. At the end of 2021, the company had 50 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,900 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).
Forward-looking statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
