Henkel Adopts Mass Balance Approach to Infuse Renewable Feedstocks into Bref Rim Blocks

Henkel Adopts Mass Balance Approach to Infuse Renewable Feedstocks into Bref Rim Blocks

(IN BRIEF) Henkel has implemented a mass balance approach to replace portions of fossil-derived materials with renewable raw materials in the production of its Bref toilet rim blocks across Europe. Working with partners Moeve and BASF, the company now uses a surfactant composed of 68 percent biobased feedstocks and has shifted around 110,000 tonnes per year of other ingredients to renewable sources. Concurrently, Henkel is increasing the renewable content of the plastic cages—which already contain 30 percent recycled content—to achieve over 10,000 tonnes of annual CO₂ savings. This initiative supports Henkel’s commitment to reducing upstream emissions and aligns with its net-zero by 2045 ambition.

(PRESS RELEASE) DÜSSELDORF, 11-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Henkel is advancing the use of sustainable feedstocks in its production of toilet rim blocks by applying a mass balance approach to renewable raw materials. For the majority of its Bref rim blocks sold throughout Europe, the company now incorporates biobased inputs into both the cleaning spheres and the plastic cages. Under this method, a defined portion of fossil-derived materials is substituted with renewable alternatives at the outset of manufacturing, and certified accounting ensures that these greener inputs are allocated to specific end products.

To boost the renewable content of its formulas, Henkel collaborates closely with ingredient suppliers. In partnership with Moeve, the company recently introduced a surfactant sourced 68 percent from renewable feedstocks—certified under the mass balance approach—for most of its toilet rim blocks. Similarly, working with BASF, Henkel has replaced fossil inputs with biobased equivalents in roughly 110,000 tonnes of annual ingredient volume, reducing the environmental footprint of other well-known brands like Persil and Schauma.

Sustainable sourcing extends beyond formulations to the plastic housings of the rim blocks. Although these baskets already contain 30 percent recycled polymer, the remaining 70 percent virgin plastic (excluding color concentrates) is now being derived increasingly from renewable materials. This shift not only addresses availability, safety and aesthetic constraints that limit recycled content, but also delivers more than 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ savings per year compared to conventional virgin plastics, based on last year’s sales.

Marjon Stamsnijder, Head of Sustainability at Henkel Consumer Brands, emphasizes: “Integrating renewable feedstocks into both our ingredients and packaging via the mass balance approach is a pivotal measure to shrink our upstream CO₂ footprint. It constitutes a key lever in our strategy to reach net-zero emissions by 2045.”

Media Contacts:

Sina Pfanschilling
Henkel
Corporate  Media Relations
+49-211-797-9904
press@henkel.com

Kathrin Brokmeier
Henkel
Corporate Media Relations
+49-211-797-8605
press@henkel.com

SOURCE: HENKEL