BASF South East Asia joins ZDHC Foundation to scale up sustainability in the leather, textile, and footwear industry

• BASF South East Asia now a “Contributor” in the Chemical Industry category of the ZDHC Foundation to help develop and implement chemical guidelines and solutions
• Haptex, BASF’s innovative polyurethane solution for synthetic leather, now certified ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX^®

Singapore – August 5, 2020 – BASF South East Asia has joined the ZDHC Foundation as a “Contributor” in its Chemical Industry category. The partnership with the Foundation and its extensive pool of experts from organizations in the textile, apparel, leather and footwear industry underlines BASF’s commitment to being an industry leader in driving sustainable chemistry, innovation and best practices. Additionally, Haptex^® is the first BASF material solution that has received the ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX^® certification for the production of synthetic leather.

Haptex, BASF’s innovative polyurethane (PU) solution, now ECO PASSPORT OEKO-TEX^® certified

Haptex, BASF’s first PU solution made without the use of organic solvents, has been certified ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX, an independent certification system for chemicals in the apparel, textile and leather industries. During a multi-stage process, ECO PASSPORT analyzes whether each ingredient in a chemical product meets international statutory requirements and is not harmful to human health. On-site inspections will also validate claims that suppliers are using safer and better chemistry according to industry best practices.

“The partnership with ZDHC represents BASF’s leadership in driving sustainability in chemicals and leather manufacturing. Through collaboration with partners, standard-setting and implementation, we are helping to protect the environment by reducing the industry’s chemical footprint across the textile, leather and footwear value chain,” said Andy Postlethwaite, Senior Vice President, BASF Performance Materials Asia Pacific. “We are pleased to know that Haptex meets the green standard of ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL) Level 3 conformance, which is the highest level in the Roadmap to Zero program.”

ZDHC MRSL Conformance indicates that ECO PASSPORT certified chemical substances conform to ZDHC standards. The ZDHC MRSL covers chemical substances that are limited or banned from intentional use in the production of apparel and footwear materials to protect workers, consumers, and the environment.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 117,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2019. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.

About ZDHC

The ZDHC Foundation oversees implementation of the Roadmap to Zero Programme and is a global multi-stakeholder initiative of more than 160 contributors within the fashion and footwear industry. The vision is widespread implementation of sustainable chemistry, driving innovations and best practices to protect consumers, workers and the environment. ZDHC uses collaborative engagement to drive a holistic, industry focused and practical approach to sustainable chemical management. ZDHC guidelines, platforms and solutions drive large-scale industry wide implementation that advances the industry as a whole towards the zero discharge of hazardous chemicals. Find more information about ZDHC at www.roadmaptozero.com. 

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