ISCC Plus for Brunsbüttel expands portfolio of more sustainable MDI for construction

Paving the way for more sustainable MDI options

A key priority of our ISCC Plus-certified Brunsbüttel site is to align our circular economy ambitions with the sustainability goals of our customers. While the certification applies to our production site, it enables us to offer MDI solutions with bio-attributed and bio-circular raw materials, supporting more sustainable material choices.

 Together, we are driving industry-wide progress by supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, reducing carbon footprints, and promoting more sustainable practices across sectors.

With this certification, we are expanding our portfolio to provide high-volume MDI products made from bio-attributed and bio-circular raw materials, reinforcing our commitment to a more circular and low-carbon future. The mass balance approach allows us to integrate these sustainable raw materials while maintaining the same high quality, durability, and performance as conventional MDI.

At Brunsbüttel, our bio-attributed raw materials help reduce CO₂ emissions by 60% compared to fossil-based alternatives, while bio-circular counterparts are entirely climate-neutral¹. By offering these solutions, we support industries in making sustainable material choices without compromising on efficiency or product integrity.

Let’s keep it neutral

We continue our path to achieving a circular economy and offering our customers both low-carbon and climate-neutral¹ MDI grades based on alternative raw materials, for example from plants, bio waste and plant waste.

In this context, mass balance is a certified and widely used method to bring more sustainable raw materials into the production chain. Currently, renewable feedstocks (e.g. plant residues, used cooking oils) can be fed in at an early stage of raw material extraction and then attributed to the finished products. This contributes to a more sustainable production process and a lower carbon footprint¹.

Understanding MDI and its role in the industry

An indispensable raw material in construction, MDI is used, for example, to produce polyurethane (PU) insulation boards and sandwich panels. These components have proven their worth over several years as highly efficient elements in thermal insulation, contributing to a more sustainable construction sector. The heating or cooling requirements of buildings can be reduced by up to 70 percent through the use of PU insulation. 

In addition to the good thermal insulation properties of PU insulating materials, our low-carbon or climate-neutral MDI grades offer additional sustainability benefits. By reducing emissions during production, they also help lower embodied carbon over the life cycle of a building and its materials.

How is the mass balance approach linked to our Brunsbüttel site?

Brunsbüttel joins our global network of ISCC PLUS-certified sites, where we produce MDI from bio-based and bio-circular materials via mass balance. This expansion strengthens our commitment to a circular economy, enhances supply diversification, and meets growing demand for sustainable products.

MDI solution for a seamless transition to sustainability and a reduced carbon footprint

With our MDI options, like Desmodur® CQ MB (bio feedstock) and Desmodur® CQ MS (bio-circular feedstock), we support customers in reducing their carbon footprint and achieving their sustainability goals.

A key advantage: Our climate-neutral MDI is a drop-in solution, meaning no changes are needed in existing facilities or processes—making the transition to sustainability effortless.