Collage of covers from the Creating Chemistry Magazine.

The climate is changing.
So are we.

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„Creating Chemistry“ –
Our sustainability magazine

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BASF Report
2022

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Sustainability

Sustainability at BASF

Chemistry for a sustainable future
 

We want to contribute to a better world with enhanced quality of life for everyone. That is why we have firmly anchored the three pillars of sustainability – the economy, environment and society – into our corporate purpose, our strategy, our targets and our operations. They are the core of what we do, a driver for growth and an element of our risk management.
 

We believe that chemistry has a critical role to play in achieving greater sustainability. We are determined to move forward in this respect.

Our focus

We make the transformation go faster

 

We have no time to lose.
If our planet is to remain livable for future generations, humanity must collectively pick up the pace to build a more sustainable future.

We believe that the power to solve some of the greatest challenges of our time – such as climate change – lies in innovation.

BASF’s solutions can be an accelerator for many of these innovations.

Consumer goods

Together with customers, we are working on consumer products that are manufactured using renewable and chemically recycled raw materials with our mass balance approach. By using circular feedstocks, we can manufacture virgin-quality products while saving fossil resources and reducing CO2 emissions.

Construction

We offer products and solutions to enable energy-efficient housing, such as super-slim high-performance insulation materials.

Industrial solutions

We offer countless products that are used by the processing industry to save resources during the manufacturing process or to make products more durable and resistant (for example, corrosion protection), extending their lifetime and avoiding emissions.

Transportation

We supply high-performance cathode active materials (CAM) for electric vehicle batteries and are creating a sustainable battery materials value chain from refining to recycling.

Energy and resources

We enable wind energy for low-carbon electricity production with products like wind blade coatings, adhesives and composites, ensuring excellent adhesion and toughness, good flexibility and thermal shock resistance.

Health and nutrition

We are setting new standards in animal nutrition with feed additives that increase efficiency, minimize emissions and ensure more sustainable animal protein production.

Agriculture

We help farmers tackle the most pressing climate challenges with the right combination of technologies designed to increase yield, make farm management easier and more effective, and reduce environmental impacts.

Consumer goods

Together with customers, we are working on consumer products that are manufactured using renewable and chemically recycled raw materials with our mass balance approach. By using circular feedstocks, we can manufacture virgin-quality products while saving fossil resources and reducing CO2 emissions.

Construction

We offer products and solutions to enable energy-efficient housing, such as super-slim high-performance insulation materials.

Health and nutrition

We are setting new standards in animal nutrition with feed additives that increase efficiency, minimize emissions and ensure more sustainable animal protein production.

Transportation

We supply high-performance cathode active materials (CAM) for electric vehicle batteries and are creating a sustainable battery materials value chain from refining to recycling.

Agriculture

We help farmers tackle the most pressing climate challenges with the right combination of technologies designed to increase yield, make farm management easier and more effective, and reduce environmental impacts.

Energy and resources

We enable wind energy for low-carbon electricity production with products like wind blade coatings, adhesives and composites, ensuring excellent adhesion and toughness, good flexibility and thermal shock resistance.

Industrial solutions

We offer countless products that are used by the processing industry to save resources during the manufacturing process or to make products more durable and resistant (for example, corrosion protection), extending their lifetime and avoiding emissions.

Our vision

We are empowering our customers to become more sustainable with our solutions.
But, since our production is CO2 intensive, we go one step further: We are reinventing the way we produce chemistry along the entire value chain. In this endeavour, we are guided by two fundamental principles: First – Our targets are ambitious. Second – Our commitments are realistic.

Expanding our sustainable product range

We are introducing more and more products that leave our gates with a significantly reduced or even a net-zero carbon footprint. A highlight of this commitment is the cooperation with Henkel, which will enable fossil carbon to be replaced by renewable raw materials in many of Henkel’s consumer products by 2026.

Contributing to a circular economy

We are thinking sustainability beyond our production, for example by helping to create a circular economy through the development of recycling technologies for various waste streams. One example is our chemical recycling project where we use secondary feedstock derived from plastic waste to manufacture virgin-quality products with our mass balance approach. This enables us to produce in a more environmentally friendly way while avoiding waste.

Sourcing our goods sustainably

Over 70% of our emissions stem from the goods and services we source, before we even start our own production. That’s why, with our global Supplier CO2 Management Program, we help our suppliers to determine the carbon footprint for each product and expect them to continously improve it. In this way, we reduce emissions right at the beginning of our supply chain.

Producing base chemicals sustainably

We are working to be able to operate our crackers with electricity from renewable sources and with it, reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 90% compared with conventional steam crackers.

Taking renewable energy supply into our own hands with a make-and-buy strategy

In addition to purchasing green power from third parties, we have, for example, built one of the world's largest wind farms in the North Sea with Vattenfall and Allianz, which went into operation in 2024. From now on, 1.5 gigawatts of renewable electricity will be generated here.

Taking renewable energy supply into our own hands with a make-and-buy strategy

In addition to purchasing green power from third parties, we have, for example, built one of the world's largest wind farms in the North Sea with Vattenfall and Allianz, which went into operation in 2024. From now on, 1.5 gigawatts of renewable electricity will be generated here.

Expanding our sustainable product range

We are introducing more and more products that leave our gates with a significantly reduced or even a net-zero carbon footprint. A highlight of this commitment is the cooperation with Henkel, which will enable fossil carbon to be replaced by renewable raw materials in many of Henkel’s consumer products by 2026.

Sourcing our goods sustainably

Over 70% of our emissions stem from the goods and services we source, before we even start our own production. That’s why, with our global Supplier CO2 Management Program, we help our suppliers to determine the carbon footprint for each product and expect them to continously improve it. In this way, we reduce emissions right at the beginning of our supply chain.

Contributing to a circular economy

We are thinking sustainability beyond our production, for example by helping to create a circular economy through the development of recycling technologies for various waste streams. One example is our chemical recycling project where we use secondary feedstock derived from plastic waste to manufacture virgin-quality products with our mass balance approach. This enables us to produce in a more environmentally friendly way while avoiding waste.

Our topics

A close up of wind turbines in the sea.
Climate Protection
The climate is changing. So are we. We want to contribute to a world with enhanced quality of life for everyone. We aim to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Important levers: Innovative solutions and technologies.
  1. Read more
Two people in blue uniform and yellow helmet are working on cables.
Carbon Management
We want to further reduce the emissions from our production and energy purchases. Therefore, we set ourselves ambitious targets to achieve through our carbon management program.
  1. Read more
A young girl throws a plastic bottle into a yellow garbage bag.
Circular Economy
We are increasingly aligning our actions with the circular economy principle. This enables us to help our customers achieve their sustainability goals while improving the material and carbon footprint of our products. 
  1. Read more
Two people in blue uniform work on batteries.
Battery Recycling
Electric vehicles are an essential building block for reducing emissions worldwide. Our innovative battery materials are making electromobility a reality. We are also pioneers in battery recycling.
  1. Read more
Two men in blue suits and yellow helmets work on a production site.
Efficient and Safe Production
The development, production, processing and transportation of chemicals require a responsible approach. Protecting people and the environment is our top priority. 
  1. Read more
Men in white clothes and turbans squat in the greenery and survey the ground.
Responsible Sourcing
Human rights, protecting the environment, anti-corruption – as a global company, we take a lot of responsibility to carefully manage our supply chains to source raw materials responsibly.
  1. Read more
Aerial view of the BASF Group headquarters in Ludwigsburg on the waterfront.
Water Management
Water is a scarce commodity in an increasing number of regions. At the same time, it is of fundamental importance in chemical production. We are committed to responsible water use along the entire value chain. 
  1. Read more
A close up of a butterfly on a pink flower.
Biodiversity
As a chemical company, we depend on the availability of renewable resources and high air, water and soil quality, while also influencing them. Protecting biodiversity is therefore an important task for us.
  1. Read more
Two young girls in goggles and white lab coats experiment with water.
Societal Engagement
We want to strengthen the communities surrounding our sites, contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and have a positive long-term impact on the environment and society. 
  1. Read more
A group of stakeholders together in dialogue.
Stakeholder Dialog
The continuous dialog with our stakeholders is of great importance to us. Their expertise and perspectives help us to engage with external opinions and continuously improve. 
  1. Read more
New production plant for cathode materials in Schwarzheide, Germany, which will start operation in 2022.
Corporate Reporting
This integrated report documents BASF's economic, environmental and social performance in 2021.
  1. Report 2021