BASF Added Recycled PET to Engineering Plastics
The new Ultradur RC1 grades utilize post-consumer waste to help automotive manufacturers reduce their supply chain emissions.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Materials Science
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BASF has expanded its engineering plastics lineup with the introduction of Ultradur RC1, a series of compounds containing up to 30 percent post-consumer recycled PET. The materials are now available for automotive applications including brackets, housings, and connectors.
Why it matters
This development addresses growing regulatory pressure for higher recycled content in vehicle components while providing manufacturers a mechanism to lower Scope 3.1 emissions. By repurposing packaging waste previously destined for energy recovery, the product targets secondary material loops.
The Ultradur RC1 line features glass-fibre-reinforced compounds that integrate post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate with polybutylene terephthalate. This composition achieves up to 30 percent recycled content by utilizing packaging waste streams outside of traditional bottle-to-bottle cycles.
The players
BASF
A global chemical company focused on the production of plastics, performance materials, and chemical intermediates for the automotive and industrial sectors.
The details
These compounds are produced by chemically combining PET with polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), a semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic used for its dimensional stability. By incorporating recycled PET sourced from packaging waste typically diverted to energy recovery, the material maintains the structural requirements of glass-fibre-reinforced plastics. These materials are engineered to perform in automotive mechanical housing and connector environments where structural integrity is required.
Timeline
2026: The materials will be displayed at Fakuma 2026 in Friedrichshafen.
19 November 2026: A technical webinar will be held by the company.
The Tech Race
This launch follows the broader automotive industry trend of formalizing Scope 3 emissions reporting for supply chain components. It marks a push to replace virgin materials in structural automotive housings with validated recycled polymers to meet stringent regulatory recycling mandates.
Automotive manufacturers can integrate these grades into existing production workflows for brackets, housings, and connectors starting immediately. The materials offer a drop-in option for firms needing to comply with upcoming regulatory requirements for recycled content in vehicle systems.
The takeaway
The addition of recycled content to high-performance PBT compounds highlights the industry shift toward repurposing energy-recovery waste into structural automotive parts. Stakeholders should track the 19 November 2026 webinar for detailed technical specifications and mechanical performance benchmarks.
What happens next
The company will showcase the material performance at Fakuma 2026 in Friedrichshafen and host a webinar on 19 November 2026.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in polymer research, visit the Materials Science section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Automotive World.
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