Innovate responsibly

The use of chemicals is debated with high emotions in public discourse. Should we ban harmful substances?

Chemicals are used for a reason: They are enablers to achieve a desired function or performance feature in a material. It is the reactivity that make these chemicals so useful, but it can also pose hazards to health and environment when the reaction is not limited to the intended and controlled situations. We need reactive chemicals for innovative materials – not least to progress in climate protection and energy solutions. Isocyanates in polyurethane foams insulate buildings, thus saving energy and cutting CO₂ emissions; epoxy hardeners increase the durability of windmill blades for green electricity; and what are called cathode active materials make it possible to switch to sustainable mobility with longer-range batteries. For all this, manufacturers and professionals need the full chemical toolbox with substances we know how to handle safely.

Consumers are very sensitive when it comes to chemistry – be it in cosmetics, home cleaning products or toys. How do you see this?

As consumers we want to protect ourselves and our families. At the same time, we are seeking certain functions in products. They should be durable or easy to use, help us to save energy or protect us. As chemists, we are used to looking at both sides of the coin: which substances will help us to develop these functions and how can we make sure that the user is safe. Our advanced analytical methods, with which we can, for example, determine substances back to the ultra-trace level, help us to do this. Before new chemical substances come to market, we subject them to all necessary environmental and toxicological tests and apply to the appropriate authorities for registration.

How can you use something hazardous in a safe way? Isn’t that contradictory?

Stairs are a simple example. If you are planning a house, it is difficult to do without them, even if they are associated with a risk of falling. However, you can install non-slip steps, fit a handrail and ensure good lighting, for example. This is risk management: Establishing the evidence about the hazard and deriving measures for protection. The ban itself is not the solution – managing the risks responsibly is!

How is the assessment of chemical risks evolving?

The industry is always working to create innovative solutions that are more effective, less hazardous and more resourceefficient. Already, more than ten years ago, we at BASF started to develop a method called Sustainable Solution Steering – TripleS. We use it to manage our portfolio, evaluating how well each product meets the requirements of customers and regulators. A product that does not fulfil the criteria will be phased out within five years. This is a continuous effort, as scientific knowledge progresses and legal requirements evolve. We’ve recently extended the TripleS methodology to consider how products support even wider sustainability goals.

What would be the consequences of banning chemicals?

Banning chemicals outright – even if they are only used in small quantities as intermediate products in production, or for research – will limit innovation. This would be fatal at a time when innovations are needed to cope with numerous sustainability challenges from the energy transformation to carbon management and the circular economy. To solve these challenges, the world needs chemicals more than ever.