Renewable Feedstock

Together with partners, OMV is actively pursuing the development of industry-scale projects to produce biofuels, biochemicals, and bioplastics from waste biomass. Waste biomass such as agricultural, forestry, and wood processing residues, or mixed municipal waste is not in competition with the food and feed chain. While the conversion of such waste biomass to high-value products is often technically challenging, the related benefits are a significant reduction in CO₂ compared with fossil-based fuels and local resource utilization that creates value.

In this section, we focus on plastics based on renewable feedstock. For more information on energy products based on renewable feedstock, please refer to Energy Transition.

Management and Due Diligence Processes

Certification

In 2020, Borealis introduced the Bornewables™ product range. Unlike renewable feedstocks produced with agricultural crops grown for food and livestock feed, Bornewables™ are made of renewably sourced feedstocks derived solely from waste and residue streams from vegetable oil production as well as oil waste and residues from the timber industry and from the food industry, for instance, used cooking oil. The entire Bornewables™ portfolio has been ISCC PLUS certified.

Life Cycle Assessment

With the new life cycle assessment published in 2021, Borealis demonstrated that Bornewables™ is especially suited to reducing carbon emissions. The assessment showed that the greenhouse gas emissions of Bornewables™ polypropylene produced at Kallo and Beringen (Belgium) go beyond carbon neutrality and can be reduced by at least 120% from cradle to gate (meaning all the steps from the sourcing of raw materials to products leaving Borealis’ production site) compared to fossil-based polypropylene. According to the LCA’s findings, using Bornewables™ substantially reduces a product’s carbon footprint by at least 2.7 kg CO₂e for every kilogram of polymer. This is possible while offering the same high performance levels as virgin polyolefins and the ability to be recycled in the same way.

2021 Actions

The following key activities were carried out across the Group in 2021:

• In July 2021, Borealis conducted a physical-content test run of the Bornewables™ produced with measurable renewable content of bio-propane (via controlled blending) in the propane dehydrogenation unit in Kallo. Since the successful test run, Borealis has been able to supply its customers with Bornewables™ polypropylene. Its physical renewable content is fully measurable according to the carbon-14 method for biogenic carbon content in addition to offering mass balance for the manufacture of sustainable polyolefins.
• In 2021, Greiner Packaging produced its first cup prototypes made of Bornewables™. By using Borealis’ Bornewables™ portfolio, Greiner Packaging has for the first time incorporated renewable resources into the production of food cups made of polypropylene (PP) with in-mould labeling (IML) as the decoration technology. The new prototype IML cups for dairy products are made of Bornewables™ monomaterial and were developed to be recycled as normal in conventional facilities in line with the principle of design for recycling.

Outlook

By 2030, we aim to produce approximately 2,000 kta of sustainable polymers and other chemicals, including biobased polyolefins. To achieve this, we will build up capabilities for the procurement of sustainable feedstocks and develop and implement a sustainable product portfolio for biobased polyolefins.