Sustainability

Nature Advisory Council

Indicators show that the planet is facing severe ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. As society including business, finance and trade is dependent on nature capital and ecosystem integrity, "nature" is becoming an increasingly important aspect also of corporate sustainability. BASF is determined to live up to its responsibility and gathers feedback from independent, international experts from the fields of agriculture, ecology and climate research in the newly founded Nature Advisory Council. 

As a chemical company, BASF uses many valuable natural resources such as water, air and soil. At the same time, our business activities have an impact on this, for example through emissions into the environment or the purchase of renewable raw materials. Therefore, we need to further develop our biodiversity approach to ensure BASF's sustainable development. To support this goal, BASF has established the Nature Advisory Council.

The independent committee offers a wide range of perspectives and evaluates BASF's business approaches as well as its impact on nature and biodiversity in a confidential setting. It supports the divisions as an independent, advisory infrastructure. 

The Nature Advisory Council currently consists of four independent, international experts from the fields of agriculture, ecology and climate research: Judith De Vor, farmer in the Global Farmer Network and social thought leader, and ecologist and climate researcher Hans-Otto Pörtner. They are joined by agricultural scientist Friedhelm Taube and Izabella Teixeira, expert in environmental management and Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel.  

Our external members include: 

Friedhelm Taube
Friedhelm Taube
Kiel University (CAU), Head of Research Group: Organic Agriculture and extensive Land Use Systems Germany
Hans-Otto Pörtner
Hans-Otto Pörtner
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Head of Departement of Integrative Ecophysiology Germany
Izabella Teixeira
Izabella Teixeira
International Resource Panel (IRP), Co-Chair, Brazil
Judith De Vor
Judith De Vor
Farm "The Elihoeve", Dairy Farmer and Advocate for Agriculture, Netherlands