Covestro & DB Cargo: Enhancing Supply Chain Circularity

Covestro, a global producer of polymers, seeks to enhance the sustainability of its supply chain through a collaboration with logistics specialist DB Cargo BTT.

Their joint efforts concentrate on Covestro’s supply chain in Poland, where large quantities of methylene diphenyl isocyanate (MDI) are moved.

This chemical raw material is essential for various polyurethane products, including thermal insulation for refrigerators and buildings.

Under the partnership, DB Cargo BTT provides a comprehensive transport solution augmented by several key sustainable features.

"The entire value chain must be involved to achieve our joint goal of climate neutrality by 2050," says Hanno Bruemmer, Head of Supply Chain and Logistics EMLA at Covestro.

"Reliable, efficient and sustainable logistics for our ever more sustainable products are integral to this effort. We collaborate with our customers and transport companies to optimise the supply chain.

"This includes improving load capacity, selecting the best transport modes and routes, and introducing using sustainable and future-oriented energy sources like green electricity or HVO to replace fossil fuels.”

Lowering transport emissions

The first feature involves moving the chemicals in tank containers from Covestro’s production sites in Germany to a nearby railway terminal using trucks powered by biofuel – one of the most sustainable substitutes for diesel.

The tank containers are then transported by rail to a distribution centre in Poland, minimising road traffic and lowering emissions.

From the distribution centre, trucks are redeployed to deliver the chemicals to end customers throughout Poland.

This approach cuts CO2 emissions by at least 70% compared to conventional road transport and is designed to adapt flexibly to increasing business demands.

With Covestro striving for climate neutrality by 2050, this strategy advances that objective while delivering a strong message to customers like the Polish Selena Group.

“At DB Cargo BTT, we also rely on working with external partners across all modes of transport in order to arrange traction or first and last mile services as efficiently as possible for our customers," says Torsten Lüders, Managing Director of DB Cargo.

"For Covestro, we have recently transported essential chemical products to Poland and we’re now happy to combine our rail expertise with bio-fuel-driven trucks for the first and last mile.

"This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to enabling more sustainable supply chains and supporting the transformation of the chemical industry. Projects like these demonstrate how we, as part of the DB Cargo group, offer our customers a significant degree of added value and are an essential part of European supply chains.”

Fostering circularity with The Polish Selena Group

The Polish Selena Group, a leading producer of construction materials and chemicals, depends on Covestro for methylene diphenyl isocyanate (MDI).

This collaboration now facilitates deliveries with a smaller carbon footprint, helping to reduce Scope 3 emissions.

"Together with Selena Group, we are committed to advancing sustainable solutions across the entire value chain, offering our valued customers not only more sustainable materials but also sustainable transportation solutions," adds Bernd Hennig, Head of Trading Cluster MDI at Covestro.

Covestro is strongly dedicated to promoting collaboration to drive circularity, opening the door for additional projects with the Polish Selena Group.

Together, the two companies have developed advanced polyurethane (PU) foams for improved building insulation, using MDI from the Desmodur CQ product line.

These ISCC Plus-certified foams are made with plant-based raw materials through mass balancing, resulting in a considerable reduction in their carbon footprint compared to fossil-based options.

With Covestro’s backing, these foams can now be supplied to Selena in an even more sustainable manner.

“Today, sustainable business no longer means having to compromise between efficiency and quality," continues Michal Specjalski, Member of the Management Board of Product and Innovation at Selena Group.

"In Selena Group we are constantly increasing our commitment to the development of sustainable construction.

"We carefully follow trends and changes in the world around us and we are constantly working on minimising our environmental impact and rational resource management. That’s why we're delighted to have Covestro and DB Cargo BTT at our side as strong partners who share our commitment to reducing emissions and achieving climate neutrality targets in Europe and worldwide.”

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