As part of a strategic collaboration, Covestro has received a first delivery of 1,000 tons of renewable phenol from Borealis, produced with renewable hydrocarbons from Neste. Neste produces these ISCC Plus certified hydrocarbons (ISCC: International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) entirely from renewable raw materials.

The hydrocarbons are then converted into ISCC Plus certified phenol by Borealis and finally used by Covestro to produce the high-performance plastic polycarbonate – as a replacement for part of the phenol previously manufactured from purely fossil resources. Polycarbonate is mostly used in car headlights, automotive glazing, LED lights and electronic devices.

Borealis, Covestro and Neste are in a strategic cooperation for the use of alternative raw materials.

“With this first supply, we are once again underlining our commitment to the increased use of alternative raw materials. In this way, we are leading carbon in a circle and are driving the circularity forward, which must become the new global guiding principle,” says Covestro´s CEO Dr. Markus Steilemann.

“We are delighted to see our product helping Covestro to achieve this new milestone. It highlights the drop-in nature of our product and it’s fit for a continuously increasing number of demanding applications,” says Peter Vanacker, CEO of Neste.

“Life demands progress. We are proud to be pioneers to deliver renewable phenol to our strategic customer Covestro. Together with our innovative value chain partner Neste we are at the forefront of driving the circular economy,” says Alfred Stern, CEO of Borealis.

Neste produces its renewable hydrocarbons entirely from renewable raw materials, such as waste and residual oils and fats. These hydrocarbons can be used in existing production infrastructures and help replace fossil feedstocks that are used in the polymers and chemicals production. This makes it possible for companies such as Borealis and Covestro to produce more sustainable products with high quality on the basis of their existing processes.

With the planned transformation of raw materials used in the company’s production, Covestro aims at helping key industries such as the automotive and electronics industries to achieve greater sustainability and reduce their dependence on materials from fossil resources.

The project is part of a comprehensive program with which Covestro, together with its partners, is seeking to propel the transformation to a circular economy and become fully circular itself.