BASF Coatings has launched its first ChemCycling® products in the automotive refinish market, becoming the first repair coating supplier to benefit from BASF's advanced ChemCycling technology under the biomass balance approach. The new clear coats, made from recycled raw materials, are part of the Glasurit® Eco Balance and R-M® eSense product lines.

Unveiled at Automechanika 2024, the leading global trade fair for the automotive aftermarket, these next-generation clear coats are produced using recycled raw materials derived from end-of-life tires. The new products, offered under BASF's premium brands Glasurit and R-M, will enhance the efficiency and productivity of auto repair workshops while promoting the circular economy and reducing CO2 emissions.

“At BASF Coatings, we constantly push the boundaries of what’s possible to support auto repair workshops with sustainable and unique market technologies,” said Chris Titmarsh, Senior Vice President, Global Automotive Refinish Coatings, BASF. “Our vision is to support a circular economy by reducing the use of fossil resources, minimizing waste, and cutting CO2 emissions across the value chain. Today, we stand out with our new products by replacing part of the fossil resources with recycled raw materials—a significant step toward less environmental impact, fewer emissions, and reduced waste.”

The ChemCycling technology allows recycled raw materials from end-of-life tires to be used in certified Ccycled® products, preventing them from ending up in landfills or incineration. The recycled content is attributed to the certified Ccycled clear coats through a mass balance approach. The Glasurit AraClass A-C-24 Eco Balance and R-M Race Finish-R eSense clear coats are the first automotive refinish products to utilize this technology, offering benefits for both auto repair workshops and the environment.

These clear coats also offer additional advantages, such as a fast drying time of just 20 minutes at 40°C, which reduces energy consumption, enhances efficiency, and lowers environmental impact. This feature is particularly beneficial for electric vehicles, as they are exposed to less extreme heat.

Expanding the Biomass Balance Product Range

In addition to the ChemCycling clear coats, BASF has introduced new sustainable solutions, including water-based basecoats in the Glasurit 100 series and R-M AGILIS. These basecoats, which already have the lowest VOC content in the industry at under 250 g/l, now include new mixing bases that follow BASF’s biomass balance approach, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 50%.

Press release by BASF.