Sustainability
Environmental Index
GHG Emissions (SASB Code: RT-CH-110a.1)
Methane: 0.025 million metric tons
Nitrous Oxide: 0.598 million metric tons
Hydrofluorocarbons: 0.082 million metric tons
BASF Report 2019: Energy and Climate Protection, p.117
Comment/Additional Information
Climate protection is very important to us. As a leading chemical company, we want to achieve CO2-neutral growth until 2030: We aim to keep total greenhouse gas emissions from our production sites and our energy purchases stable at the 2018 level while growing production volumes. Sharp increases due to the startup of large-scale plants will be progressively offset. When deciding on investments and acquisitions, we systematically consider the effects on greenhouse gas emissions. We want to reach our climate protection target and enable further reductions with plant optimization measures, by purchasing low-carbon energy, and with a research and development program to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions over the long term. We have bundled these measures in our carbon management program. In addition, we will also consider temporarily taking external offsetting measures such as purchasing certificates if the technical or economic environment does not permit a stabilization of emissions at the 2018 level using the above approaches.
Since 2004, we have participated in the international non-profit organization CDP’s program for reporting on data relevant to climate protection. BASF achieved a score of A– in CDP’s rating for 2020, thus attaining Leadership status again. Companies on the Leadership level are distinguished by factors such as the completeness and transparency of their reporting. They also pursue comprehensive approaches in managing the opportunities and risks associated with climate change as well as emissions reduction strategies to achieve company-wide goals.
BASF does not report PFC, SF6 and NF3, since there are no significant emissions.
GHG Emissions (SASB Code: RT-CH-110a.2)
Accounting metric
Discussion of long-term and short-term strategy or plan to manage scope 1 emissions, emissions reduction targets, and an analysis of performance against those targets
Information
BASF set the target of achieving carbon-neutral growth until 2030: We aim to maintain total greenhouse gas emissions from our production sites (excluding emissions from sale of energy to third parties) and our energy purchases at the 2018 level while increasing production. In 2019, the emissions reported under our target were below the 2018 level, which means we achieved our target in this year.
Global activities to reach our climate protection target and reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the long term are bundled in our Carbon Management. We have adopted a three-pronged approach: increase production and process efficiency, purchase electricity from renewable sources, and develop completely new low-emission technologies and processes.
Source
BASF Report 2019: Climate Protection with Carbon Management, p. 121
More Information on Carbon Management
Comment/Additional Information
As an energy-intensive company, we are committed to energy efficiency and global climate protection. We want to reduce emissions along the value chain. To achieve this, we rely on efficient technologies for generating steam and electricity, increased use of renewable energies, energy-efficient production processes and comprehensive energy management, among other things. Our climate protection products make an important contribution toward helping our customers avoid emissions.
Air Quality (SASB Code: RT-CH-120a.1)
Accounting metric
Air emissions of the following pollutants:
(1) NOX (excluding N2O),
(2) SOX,
(3) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and
(4) Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)
Information
(1) NOX: 10,534 metric tons
(2) SOX: 1,982 metric tons
(3) VOCs: 4,496 metric tons Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC)
(4) HAPs: included in VOCs
Source
BASF Report 2019: Air and Soil, p. 123
Comment/Additional Information
BASF records substances that can have a negative impact on health and the environment. These substances are assigned to VOCs and published as totals. BASF records those substances where emissions are expected in the process and which must be measured at the request of the authorities due to their hazard potential.
Energy Management (SASB Code: RT-CH-130a.1)
Accounting metric
(1) Total energy consumed
(2) Percentage grid electricity
(3) Percentage renewable
(4) Total self-generated energy
Information
(1) (53,842,000 + 5,415,000 + 5,056,000 + 1,080)MWh * 3.6 = 231.53 million gigajoules
(2) 8% (grid electricity import for own consumption / total energy consumption (5,415,000 MWh / 64,314,080 MWh))
(3) Ca. 0.2% (total renewable sources from total energy consumption)
As part of its Carbon Management, BASF aims to increase the proportion of renewable energy in the electricity purchased for the production sites.
(4) Steam including waste heat steam:
(10,054 Mio MWh (electricity) + 38,021 Mio MWh (steam; total self-generated incl. waste heat)) * 3.6
= 48,075 * 3.6 = 173.07 million gigajoules
Source
BASF Report 2019: Energy and Climate Protection, p. 118
BASF Report 2019: Carbon Management, p. 122
TCFD Content Index
CDP Climate Report 2020, p. 82-83
As part of our Carbon Management Program, we aim to increase the proportion of renewable energy in the electricity purchased for our production sites. Twenty-three sites in Europe, North America and Asia already source emission-free electricity from suppliers.
BASF Report 2019: Energy and Climate Protection, p. 65 and p. 119-122
CDP Climate Report 2020, p. 87
More information about Carbon Management
Comment/Additional Information
BASF records substances that can have a negative impact on health and the environment. These substances are assigned to VOCs and published as totals. BASF records those substances where emissions are expected in the process and which must be measured at the request of the authorities due to their hazard potential.
Water & Wastewater Management (SASB Code: RT-CH-140a.1)
Accounting metric
(1) Total water withdrawn
(2) Total water consumed, percentage of each in regions with high or extremely high baseline water stress
Information
(1) 1,717 million cubic meters
Breakdown (million cubic meters/year):
- Surface water/freshwater: 1,433
- Brackish water/seawater: 192
- Groundwater: 68
- Drinking water: 28
Reusable wastewater from third parties:
1% in waterstress areas
(2) 6,788 million cubic meters (14% production, 86% cooling), 14% in waterstress areas
Source
BASF Report 2019: Water, p.124-125, water balance graphic
CDP Water Report 2020, p. 11-12
Comment/Additional Information
Definition water stress areas: all areas in which more than 40% of available water is used by industry, household and agriculture (previous definition: more than 60% of available water).
BASF Report 2019: Water, p.124
Water & Wastewater Management (SASB Code: RT-CH-140a.2)
Accounting metric
Number of incidents of non-compliance associated with water quality permits, standards, and regulations
Information
3 incidents (fixed)
Source
Water & Wastewater Management (SASB Code: RT-CH-140a.3)
Accounting metric
Description of water management risks and discussion of strategies and practices to mitigate those risks
Information
- BASF aims to use water as sparingly as possible and further reduce emissions to water.
- BASF aims to achieve sustainable water management through the application of the European Water Stewardship standard, which rests on four principles: sustainable water abstraction, maintaining good water quality, preserving conservation areas and ensuring continuous improvement processes.
- BASF has various procedures for identifying and assessing water-related risks (direct operations, supply chain and in other stages of the value chain).
Examples: WRI Aqueduct, COSO Enterprise Risk Management Framework, Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard, European Water Stewardship (EWS) standard, Environmental Impact Assessment, Life Cycle Assessment
Source
BASF Report 2019: Water, p. 124, 125
CDP Water Report 2020, p. 31-32
Comment/Additional Information
BASF aims to introduce sustainable water management at all production sites in water stress areas and at all Verbund sites.
More examples for contextual issues, which are considered in water-related risk assessments of BASF:
More information on BASF’s sustainable water management and our commitments
Hazardous Waste Management (SASB Code: RT-CH-150a.1)
Accounting metric
Amount of hazardous waste generated, percentage recycled
Information
Hazardous waste
0.92 million tons waste for disposal
0.59 million tons recovered waste
Total: 1.51 million tons
Source
BASF Report 2019: Air and Soil, Management of waste and contaminated sites, p.123
Comment/Additional Information
Instead of the term “physical recovery”, BASF uses the term “recycled.”
Percentage of hazardous waste generated that was incinerated: 37%
0.45 million tons (with energy recovery) + 0.11 million tons (without energy recovery)
= 0.56 million tons