BASF Virtual Lab offers new experiment about plastic waste
- An online platform allows children to do a variety of interactive chemistry experiments
- “The Plastic Pros” offers opportunities for children to develop an awareness of the challenges of reducing plastic waste and consider solutions
Tokyo, Japan – August 18, 2021 – BASF has recently introduced a new chemistry experiment, “The Plastic Pros - Our Environment Needs Your Help!”, in Japanese in BASF Virtual Lab. As an extension of BASF’s global hands-on chemistry education program Kids’ Lab, BASF Virtual Lab provides a wide range of interactive experiments in more than 10 different languages.
“The Plastic Pros - Our Environment Needs Your Help!” is a new experiment targeting Japanese students in fourth grade and above. It aims to help children develop an awareness of the challenges of reducing plastic waste and to understand the complex issue of the circular economy. In the experiment, they will learn how to separate different types of plastics by density using water . They will also understand how plastic with low density floats on the water surface and then sinks to the seabed over time and learn what they can do to reduce plastic waste.
Hiroki Ishida, Representative Director and President of BASF Japan Ltd. said, “BASF has been committed to promoting science education among young learners through its worldwide Kids’ Lab program. BASF Virtual Lab is a tool that allows more children to experience the joy of chemistry anytime and anywhere. We hope that the new experiment under the theme of plastic waste will give children ideas and suggestions for their own behavior in everyday life and raise their awareness of the problem.”
BASF is involved in various projects and initiatives to develop solutions that reduce and eliminate plastic waste in the environment. Examples include the establishment of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), a global alliance to drive solutions that help to solve the world’s plastic waste problem; participation in the Operation Clean Sweep®, an international initiative of the plastics industry aimed at preventing the loss of plastic pellets into the environment; and the promotion of the “ChemCyclingTM” Project to produce new products from chemically recycled plastic waste.
Three other experiments available in Japanese
BASF Virtual Lab provides three other online experiments in Japanese – “Sweet Bread”, “Cleaning Dirty Water” and “The Red Stain Devil”. The “Sweet Bread” experiment focuses on health nutrition and teaches children about enzymatic degradation as well as various nutrients contained in food. The “Cleaning Dirty Water” experiment simulates the water recycling process using simple lab materials. “The Red Stain Devil” experiment shows how color-care detergent works.
About BASF Kids’ Lab Program
Education is the key to the future of our children, and it plays an important role in the development of society. With our Social Engagement Strategy, we want to open up learning opportunities and to encourage children’s sense of discovery and teach good science methods and skills. This helps us to meet the challenges of tomorrow and to create a sustainable future.The BASF Kids’ Lab program is an interactive, fun and free chemistry education program designed for kids aged 6 to 12 years to discover the world of chemistry through simple and safe hands on experiments. The program has been brought to more than 30 countries across the globe, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Singapore, India and Japan. It was established in 1997 in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
About BASF in Japan
BASF has been a committed partner to Japan since 1888. Operating both production sites as well as research and development facilities in Japan, BASF contributes to the success of Japanese customers nationwide as well as globally by providing products and solutions to nearly all industries. These include the automotive, construction, pharmaceutical, medical, electronics, electric, packaging, home and personal care, agriculture and food industries. As of the end of 2020, BASF employed 955 employees in Japan, and recorded sales of about €1.7 billion to customers in the country. Further information is available on the internet at www.basf.com/jp.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 110,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute 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 2020. 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.
