Asahi Kasei Strengthens Carbon Footprint Transparency for Acrylonitrile
Tongsuh Petrochemical, a wholly owned South Korean subsidiary of Asahi Kasei, has secured “Reasonable Assurance” verification for the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) of acrylonitrile (AN). The verification follows an independent audit of its Ulsan manufacturing site and supports growing customer demand for reliable, verified carbon footprint data.
Independent Audit Confirms Carbon Footprint Data
Socotec Certification Japan conducted the audit. It reviewed the methodology, source data and reporting process used to calculate the fiscal 2025 carbon footprint of acrylonitrile, covering activities from raw material procurement through production.
The “Reasonable Assurance” verification provides a high level of confidence in the reported carbon footprint data. It also exceeds the requirements for “Limited Assurance”.
Acrylonitrile is an important chemical intermediate used in several industries. Its applications include ABS resins, acrylamide, acrylic fibres and carbon fibre precursor materials.
Progress Towards Lower-Carbon Production
Tongsuh Petrochemical has worked to advance lower-carbon production in recent years. In 2021, the company obtained ISCC PLUS certification, a recognised sustainability certification scheme that supports the traceability of bio-based and circular feedstocks.
Since 2022, the company has also produced and marketed acrylonitrile using biomass-derived propylene through a mass-balance approach.
Advancing Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing
Asahi Kasei plans to continue reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to acrylonitrile production. To achieve this, the company will improve its proprietary catalyst and manufacturing technologies. It is also expanding the use of biomass-based feedstocks.
Through these initiatives, Asahi Kasei aims to combine lower-carbon materials with reliable environmental data. This approach will help customers assess the environmental impact of materials across their supply chains.
The company also aims to strengthen its role as a global sustainability partner for industries working towards supply chain decarbonisation.
