BASF Expanded Engineering Plastics Product Line
The company introduced new compounds featuring up to 30 percent post-consumer recycled PET content.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Materials Science
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BASF has added new Ultradur RC1 grades to its engineering plastics portfolio. These glass-fibre-reinforced materials integrate post-consumer recycled PET packaging waste that was previously destined for energy recovery.
Why it matters
The introduction of these materials provides manufacturers with a pathway to reduce Scope 3.1 emissions. The product line also assists companies in complying with increasingly stringent global regulations regarding recycled content.
The new Ultradur RC1 grades utilize a combination of polybutylene terephthalate and up to 30 percent post-consumer recycled PET. This composition utilizes secondary packaging waste streams that were historically bypassed by bottle-to-bottle recycling loops.
The players
BASF
BASF is a major international chemical company that produces a wide range of products including plastics, performance materials, and industrial chemicals.
The details
Designed for automotive applications like housings, brackets, and connectors, these compounds provide a structural alternative to traditional virgin plastics. By incorporating waste materials that would otherwise be used for energy recovery, the engineering process extends the life cycle of the polyethylene terephthalate.
Timeline
Fakuma 2026 will showcase these materials in Friedrichshafen.
A company webinar regarding the product launch is scheduled for 19 November 2026.
Deeper Dive
This release follows a pattern set by the European Union Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation regarding mandatory recycled content. By integrating materials typically lost to energy recovery, the company shifts away from reliance on virgin fossil-fuel-based feedstocks.
These compounds provide automotive manufacturers with a drop-in solution to improve the sustainability metrics of vehicle components like housings and connectors. As these materials enter the supply chain, they will likely reduce the carbon footprint associated with automotive assembly.
The takeaway
The use of waste streams previously slated for energy recovery represents a significant shift toward circular material management. Manufacturers looking to align with climate goals can implement these compounds to lower their Scope 3 emissions effectively.
What happens next
The company plans to demonstrate the technical capabilities of the new grades during the Fakuma 2026 exhibition in Friedrichshafen and via a dedicated webinar on 19 November 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in the field by visiting the Materials Science section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Automotive World.
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