Several Chemical Companies Interested in Mass Balance Accounting

An internet search and examination of company annual reports identified the following chemical companies that are interested in using mass balance accounting: 

• BASF
• Celanese
• Chevron Phillips
• Clariant
• DSM
• Eastman
• LyondellBasell
• Perstorp
• Schill Seilacher
• Trinseo
• Wacker 

The term mass balance accounting refers to the process of using amounts of  “biomass/recycled” raw materials along with fossil-based raw materials as starting products for producing the compounds needed (e.g., low-chain carbon compounds) for making other chemicals used in producing finished products.  The greater the amount of the “biomass/recycled” raw materials used, the greater the overall reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. 

If ten percent of the starting raw materials is “biomass/recycled”, and not fossil-based, then ten percent of the finished product can be considered to be “green” and the company can market that ten percent as  “green”, a market which is increasing and represents a path to badly-needed reductions of carbon dioxide emissions.  Click here to read an Ellen MacArthur Foundation report on mass balance accounting. 

The number of chemical companies in the list above, as well as what is in the MacArthur Foundation report and information found at American and European chemical industry trade associations, suggest that mass balance accounting is being viewed by chemical companies as an important process for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and one that chemical companies could enthusiastically support.