As a result of a three-way strategic collaboration, Covestro has now, for the first time, taken delivery of 1,000 tons of renewable phenol from Borealis, produced with renewable hydrocarbons from Neste.
Neste produces ISCC Plus certified hydrocarbons entirely from renewable raw materials, such as waste and residual oils and fats that can then be used in existing production infrastructures to help replace the fossil feedstocks normally used in the polymers and chemicals production.
In this case, the hydrocarbons are converted into ISCC Plus mass balance certified phenol by Borealis, who is ‘proud to be pioneers to deliver renewable phenol to our strategic customer Covestro’, according to its CEO, Alfred Stern. “Life demands progress.”
The phenol is used by Covestro to produce high-performance plastic polycarbonate, and forms a replacement of part of the phenol previously manufactured from purely fossil resources. Polycarbonate is used in applications varying from car headlights, automotive glazing and LED lights to electronic devices, as well as many others.
"In this way, we are recycling carbon and are driving the circularity forward, which must become the new global guiding principle," says Covestro´s CEO Dr. Markus Steilemann. "By cooperating with upstream partners such as Neste and Borealis, we are showing how a sustainable value chain can work.”
The project is part of a comprehensive program with which Covestro, together with its partners, is seeking to reduce the dependancy on fossil resources and to propel the transformation to a circular economy and become fully circular itself.
“We are delighted to see our renewable feedstock helping Covestro to achieve this new milestone,” said Peter Vanacker, President and CEO of Neste. “Furthermore, it clearly demonstrates how sustainability-focused collaboration among frontrunner companies – Neste, Borealis and Covestro – can make a positive impact even within a complex value chain.”