Cepsa Química (Madrid, Spain) announced the first global methodology to ensure traceability in the production of low-carbon linear alkylbenzene (LAB), produced from renewable energies, validated by AENOR (the Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification). The plant that Cepsa Química has in Bécancour (Canada) has been the first facility to be certified with this process. Specifically, AENOR, using this new procedure, has validated the traceability of the reduction of emissions based on the consumption of biogas used in the production of the NextLab-Low Carbon, the first in the world LAB produced with a majority of sustainable energy. The carbon footprint of the new NextLab-Low Carbon is 19% lower than that of the LAB produced with fossil fuels, based on the Life Cycle Analysis prepared by Cepsa Química and verified by a panel of three independent experts.
As said by Alfredo López Carretero, Safety, Sustainability and Energy Transition Director at Cepsa Química: “the development of this new certification process carried out together with AENOR is an endorsement of Cepsa’s efforts to achieve a more sustainable chemical industry that respects our environment, while we continue to advance in our Positive Motion strategy and in the objective of decarbonization and reduction of CO2 emissions until we reach our Net Zero commitment in 2050″.
The method developed by Cepsa Química and validated by AENOR is based on the application of several international standards such as UNE-EN 16325 on guarantees of origin related to energy and electricity, ISO 22095 on chain of custody, and ISO 14067 on greenhouse gases.
This is the first certification of its kind in the world. To date, there had been no certification on the traceability of CO2 emission reductions based on the use of renewable energy to manufacture products with fossil raw materials. This methodology responds to a need identified in the sector, where the combination of products manufactured with non-renewable raw materials and the use of renewable energies, and therefore with a lower carbon footprint, did not have external certifications.
This product is part of the company’s new NEXT platform of sustainable products. LAB is the most widely used product worldwide in the detergency and homecare sector to produce biodegradable detergents.
Cepsa Química’s NextLab product range enables detergent companies to achieve their own decarbonization targets by producing a final product with a lower carbon footprint, while maintaining the same performance as the traditional product.
In addition to NextLab-Low Carbon, Cepsa Química also has NextLab R made from renewable raw materials and is working on the development of a new product called NextLab-C based on circular raw materials from recycling processes.