The Mass Balancing Approach is a method for certifying and tracking sustainable materials that are mixed with conventional raw materials in production processes. This approach makes it possible to track how much of a particular raw material - such as bio-based or recycled materials - is incorporated into the final product in a production facility without physically separating these raw materials from the rest of the production. The mass balance approach is often used in the plastics, chemical and energy industries to promote the integration of sustainable raw materials and transparently show their share along the supply chain.
 

How it works

With the mass balancing approach, the quantity of sustainable raw materials used is “offset” against the quantity of end products produced. Companies that use this approach can declare the proportion of sustainable materials in their products without having to process the raw materials completely separately. The main steps include:

1. Use of sustainable raw materials: Bio-based, recycled or other certified materials are used and mixed in production.
2. Quantity calculation: a record is kept of how much of the sustainable raw materials have been used and this proportion is apportioned mathematically to the end product.
3. Certification and tracking: An independent certification body verifies compliance with the mass balance standards so that the sustainability claims on the end product can be credibly tracked.

Example: In a chemical production plant, conventional crude oil is processed together with bio-based or recycled raw material. As physical separation in production would often be time-consuming and expensive, the total quantity of sustainable material is distributed to the end products using the mass balance approach. This allows products to be labeled as “made with X% sustainable raw materials”, even if the individual products still contain conventional raw materials from a physical point of view.

Advantages of mass balancing approach

Promotion of sustainable raw materials: the ability to easily integrate sustainable materials into existing production processes makes the use of environmentally friendly raw materials more economical and practical.

Transparency and credibility: Certifications and standards ensure that sustainability information is comprehensible and trustworthy.

Scalability: The approach can be easily applied to large production processes, which accelerates the transition phase to the use of sustainable resources.

Challenges and points of criticism

Risk of confusion: the mass balancing approach can lead to confusion, as the physical content of sustainable raw materials in the end product is not directly traceable. There is criticism that consumers may be misled.

Dependence on certifications: Transparency depends heavily on certification standards and the diligence of testing organizations.

Fewer incentives for complete conversion: As sustainable materials are separated mathematically and not physically, the mass balance approach is less able to motivate companies to switch completely to sustainable raw materials.