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The Mass Balance Approach – A Key To The Circular Economy
Less fossil resource consumption, more eco products, same quality: the mass balance approach offers advantages on many levels, making it possible to keep boosting the content of certified-sustainable renewables while continuing to broaden the portfolio of eco products. Which is good news for anyone who sets high standards for quality and sustainability – and is especially good news for the future of our climate.
Mass Balance – What is it Exactly?
We Save Fossil Resources Because We Care
All of WACKER’s efforts are directed toward achieving a climate-neutral circular economy. Conserving fossil resources and using renewable raw materials is bringing us a decisive step closer toward reaching this goal. We are taking action today to reap the benefit tomorrow – because we care for mankind, nature and the environment.
Two Methods, One Result
The mass balance approach replaces fossil raw materials with renewables. This can be done in two ways: by replacing the fossil raw material in a straight 1-for-1 swap (called substitution) or, where this is not possible, by offsetting it through using a renewable raw material elsewhere in the production process (compensation). WACKER has opted for substitution.
Sustainability To Order
To make a mass balance product, we feed renewable raw material into the production process instead of the fossil variant. The organic substance is subsequently allocated to the mass balance product that the customer has ordered. This is purely a mathematical process: the amount of renewable raw material used is allocated to the mass balance products – mathematically speaking, all of the remaining products are therefore based on fossil feedstocks (see illustration).
Audited, certified, straightforward
WACKER eco products are certified in line with the REDcert2 standard, based on the mass balance approach. This certification confirms the replacement of fossil raw materials by renewable ones and is verified by a recognized and independent testing body. Products thus certified are compelling thanks to not only their sustainability, but also due to their properties: specifications, quality and performance are identical to the fossil variant. WACKER eco products can be used straight away and do not have to be reformulated.
From Byproduct To Leading Actor
Currently, WACKER uses two renewable raw materials: bio-based acetic acid and biomethanol, both of which are certified. Discover how these byproducts are becoming climate heroes.
Precious Waste
The bio-based acetic acid used in the WACKER mass balance approach is a byproduct from the wood-processing industry. The wood itself is sourced from sustainably managed forests. The resulting bio-based acetic acid is certified to the PEFC® standard.
More Than Just Straw
WACKER uses biomethanol to manufacture its eco products. This resource-efficient substitute is manufactured by steam reforming in a synthesis reactor using a gas feedstock produced from straw. The biomethanol produced by the WACKER mass balance approach is ISCC certified.
WACKER Mass Balance Approach – The Advantages Keep On Coming
Conserves Fossil Raw Materials While Maintaining Quality
The mass balance approach meets both sustainability and quality standards: fossil resources are conserved and product formulation and quality remain unchanged.
Quantifiable Life Cycle Assessment
The environmental impact of WACKER eco products can be quantified – and, ideally, optimized – by means of the carbon mass balance approach, which was developed specifically for this purpose. Because, continuous improvement is always good.
Drop-In Solution
More sustainability through smooth transitions: the mass balance approach is a drop-in solution that facilitates transitioning to higher contents of certified renewables.
REDcert2 Certified
The WACKER mass balance approach meets the criteria of the REDcert2 standard for tracing renewable raw materials and is audited by third parties.
Versatile In Use
The mass balance approach can be applied to many different products. WACKER already offers a comprehensive portfolio of eco products.
Keeping An Eye On The Entire Life Cycle
To keep the environmental impact of its eco products as low as possible, WACKER continuously analyzes and evaluates its portfolio using the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. This tool has been further enhanced with the innovative standards-compliant carbon mass balance (CMB) approach, which can accommodate both the substitution and compensation variants and can thus be applied to mass-balance eco products from WACKER. After all, before we can mitigate impacts on people, nature and the environment, we need to accurately define them.
Get To Know Resource-Efficient Eco Products From WACKER!
Discover here which products WACKER has already developed alternative eco product lines for.
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