LANXESS shifts Botlek production to low-emission electricity for benzoic acid and derivatives

LANXESS shifts Botlek production to low-emission electricity for benzoic acid and derivatives

(IN BRIEF) LANXESS has transitioned production of benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, and sodium benzoate at its Botlek site in the Netherlands to operate fully on low-emission electricity, removing fossil fuels from the process. The move reduces the carbon footprint of products sold under the Kalaguard SB, Kalama, Purox B, and Purox S brands, which are widely used in food, personal care, home care, and pet food industries. This step supports downstream decarbonization while ensuring consistent quality and availability. It forms part of LANXESS’s wider strategy of cutting Scope 2 emissions, with other facilities already using renewable or biomass-based energy. All Flavors & Fragrances sites are certified under ISCC PLUS, reinforcing sustainable raw material transparency, while the “Scopeblue” label highlights portfolio products with at least 50 percent renewable content or a footprint cut by half. The unit employs 780 staff and generated EUR 2.08 billion in 2024 as part of the Consumer Protection segment.

(PRESS RELEASE) COLOGNE, 18-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — LANXESS, the specialty chemicals group, has significantly lowered the carbon footprint of its Botlek production facility in the Netherlands. The company now manufactures benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, and sodium benzoate exclusively with low-emission electricity, eliminating the use of fossil fuels. These key products, sold under the brands Kalaguard SB, Kalama, Purox B, and Purox S, play an important role in the production of food, beverages, pet food, as well as personal and home care products. By switching to climate-friendly energy sources, LANXESS is supporting the decarbonization of the downstream value chain while maintaining the same product quality and availability.

Michael Zobel, head of the Flavors & Fragrances business unit at LANXESS, emphasized that the company’s efforts directly support its customers’ sustainability goals. “Our customers face growing pressure to reduce their CO2 emissions. With the transition in Botlek, we help them integrate CO2-optimized products without any compromise in performance,” he said.

This initiative is part of a broader company-wide strategy. LANXESS has already adapted the energy supply at multiple sites to renewable and low-emission sources. At its Krefeld-Uerdingen facility, the power supply has been switched entirely to renewable energy, while in Nagda, India, both electricity and steam are now largely generated from biomass. These steps have led to notable reductions in Scope 2 emissions across the company.

To strengthen transparency and traceability, LANXESS has also obtained ISCC PLUS certification for all production sites within its Flavors & Fragrances business unit. Through the mass balance method, the company ensures sustainable raw material usage while preserving product characteristics and quality. ISCC PLUS is now considered a leading certification standard for sustainability in the chemical sector.

In addition, since early 2024, all product lines in the Flavors & Fragrances business unit are also available under the “Scopeblue” label. This label highlights products that either contain at least 50 percent renewable raw materials or deliver a carbon footprint reduction of 50 percent or more compared with conventional alternatives.

The Flavors & Fragrances business unit employs around 780 people globally and develops a wide portfolio of flavors, fragrances, and preservatives. These are used in diverse consumer goods applications including cosmetics, cleaning agents, food, beverages, pet care, candles, and pharmaceuticals. As part of the Consumer Protection segment, the unit contributed to sales of approximately EUR 2.08 billion in 2024.

About LANXESS
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 6.4 billion in 2024. The company currently has about 11,900 employees in 32 countries. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives and consumer protection products. LANXESS has achieved leading positions in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index and the MSCI ESG and ISS ESG ratings, among others, for its commitment to sustainability.

Forward-Looking Statements
This company release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions, opinions, expectations and views of the company or cited from third party sources. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the estimations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors, nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, estimates, targets and opinions contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein, and accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG or any of its affiliated companies or any of such person’s officers, directors or employees accepts any liability whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.

Media Contact:

Ingo Drechsler
Head of External Relations, Spokesperson
+49 221 8885 3790
ingo.drechsler@lanxess.com

Eva Krüger
Spokesperson, Financial and Business Media
+49 221 8885-4010
eva.krueger@lanxess.com

Alexander Böhm
Spokesperson Financial & Business Media
+49 221 8885 4746
alexander.boehm@lanxess.com

SOURCE: LANXESS