BASF recently officially opened its new production line for water-based dispersions in Heerenveen, the Netherlands. As a result of this new line, production capacity will be increased, without additional CO2 emissions. The expansion has taken place on the basis of the existing infrastructure and buildings.

The installation will be electrically powered and supplied with green electricity from the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm, which BASF operates in a joint venture with Vattenfall and Allianz. 

“I am proud that we have achieved this expansion without additional CO2 emissions. Our site aims to become CO2 neutral and to contribute to BASF’s climate protection targets. At the same time, we want to continue to grow to serve our customers with products with a low ecological footprint,” said Sjoerd Visser, site manager of BASF’s Heerenveen site.

The coatings, printing and packaging market, which BASF serves with its products, is undergoing a major transition. There is an increasing consumer demand for sustainable solutions.

“The expansion will enable us to grow with strategically important products to enable a shift in the value chain from plastic to paper-based packaging and with our water-based products to give them a functional property such as barrier properties,” Visser observed. “In addition, we will have the opportunity to increase the amount of bio-based products in our portfolio in the printing and packaging industry, as well as in the coatings market.”

The new line will significantly increase production capacity of the products Joncryl and Acronal Pro, for example. Joncryl, a water-based (and therefore environmentally and food-safe) polymer product is used in sustainable inks for food packaging. The color is retained longer and is less harmful to the environment. Acronal Pro water-based polymers offer high-quality and durable solutions to optimize the color and gloss of paints and varnishes.