Evonik has introduced a low-carbon footprint (LCF) peracetic acid to the European market, enabling customers to reduce Scope 3 emissions without compromising product performance, quality, or regulatory compliance.
The move marks a significant step in the company’s sustainability strategy, with the product’s reduced carbon footprint achieved through a mass balance approach certified independently by TÜV Rheinland and aligned with the latest ISO standards.
Peracetic acid (PAA) is a widely used broad-spectrum disinfectant deployed across numerous industries. Made primarily from hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid—the natural compound responsible for vinegar’s characteristic tartness—PAA is valued for its environmental profile, breaking down into water, oxygen, and acetic acid after use.
Now, Evonik is strengthening those sustainability credentials by reducing emissions during production. By incorporating renewable raw materials, the company can manufacture PAA with a substantially lower carbon footprint than conventional alternatives.
“Active Oxygens is already progressing along our roadmap toward net zero emissions by 2040. But customers don’t have to wait until 2040 to benefit. By applying a mass balance approach to identify the portion of our PAA that already has a low carbon footprint (LCF), we can issue an ‘LCF pass’ for this product.
"The pass enables customers to transparently reduce their Scope 3 emissions – with no change in quality, performance, or even the regulatory framework, such as biocidal approval,” said Christoph Batz-Sohn, Director for Sustainable Transformation at Evonik’s Active Oxygens business line.
The mass balance methodology calculates a product’s carbon footprint based on the share of sustainable inputs, including renewable raw materials and energy sources. Evonik’s approach follows ISO 22095-2:2026 and the TfS Guideline 2024. The lower-emission PAA is produced using bio-based acetic acid alongside Evonik’s own low-carbon-footprint hydrogen peroxide.
The innovation is already attracting interest from sustainability-focused companies across the peracetic acid value chain.
“KIEHL prioritizes the environment in all aspects of our business. From production floor to product design, we focus on increasing circularity and reducing environmental impacts.
"With Evonik, we have found a partner who takes this topic equally seriously: The LCF pass will enable us to reduce our Scope 3 emissions even further, contributing to fulfilling our sustainability promise to customers, partners, and regulators,” said Johannes Peter Kiehl, CEO of international cleaning agent manufacturer JOHANNES KIEHL KG.
Evonik said its low-carbon-footprint PAA is available immediately across its peracetic acid portfolio, offering customers a practical and transparent way to accelerate decarbonization efforts while maintaining existing product specifications and approvals.
