BASF is expanding its portfolio of engineering plastics with new Ultradur grades – a glass fiber-reinforced PBT/PET compounds containing up to 30% post-consumer recycled content, combining sustainability with outstanding technical performance.

Ultradur RC1 is based on recycled PET from post-consumer packaging waste.

This new grade is designed to help automotive manufacturers and suppliers increase the recycled content of their products while meeting demanding technical requirements.

“The automotive industry faces growing pressure to increase the use of recycled materials while continuing to meet the highest technical requirements. With Ultradur RC1, we offer a solution that combines both: a significant share of post-consumer recycled content and a performance required for demanding engineering applications,” said Patrick Wilke, Segment Manager Transportation, Engineering Plastics, BASF.

BASF will showcase the new PBT/PET compounds at Fakuma 2026, demonstrating their potential for more sustainable automotive components through specific application examples.

Strong performance with recycled content

The new Ultradur RC1 grades have been developed to match the properties of conventional grades based on virgin raw materials as closely as possible. The compounds provide the strength, stiffness, and dimensional stability required for demanding engineering applications.

This enables customers to increase the recycled content of their components while maintaining high standards of quality, processability, or performance.

The designation RC1 stands for the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. The new Ultradur RC1 products are based on PCR-PET sourced from packaging waste not competing with established bottle-to-bottle recycling streams and is often used for energy recovery instead.

By utilizing this material, BASF taps into an additional recycling stream and directs previously underutilized resources into high value applications.

Designed for structural automotive applications

The new Ultradur RC1 grades have been specifically developed for structural automotive components. Typical applications include brackets, housings, structural parts, connectors, and other engineering components where both high mechanical performance and sustainability targets must be achieved.

The portfolio comprises variants with different reinforcement levels to meet a broad range of application requirements.

Supporting climate targets and regulatory requirements

In addition to increasing recycled content, the new Ultradur RC1 products can contribute to reducing companies’ Scope 3.1 emissions. At the same time, they can support OEMs and suppliers in meeting evolving regulatory requirements regarding recycled content in plastic components.

This development is part of BASF’s comprehensive portfolio of circular solutions for engineering plastics. With its RC1 products, BASF creates additional opportunities for the high-value utilization of plastic waste and supports the transition toward a more circular economy.