Sustainability
Human Capital Index
Community Relations (SASB Code: RT-CH-210a.1)
Accounting metric
Discussion of engagement processes to manage risks and opportunities associated with community interests
Information
BASF draws on the competence of global initiatives and networks and contributes its own expertise. BASF is active in worldwide initiatives with various stakeholder groups. These include the Business for Inclusive Growth initiative, which was established in 2019 by a coalition of international companies who have joined forces with the G7 countries and the OECD to strengthen gender equality, diversity and inclusive growth. BASF was awarded the 2020 CSR Prize by the German federal government, which highlights our long-standing commitment to CSR (corporate social responsibility) and its comprehensive sustainability strategy.
Responsible Care Management system:
Regular audits help to ensure that standards for safety, security, health and environmental protection are met. BASF conducts regular audits every three to six years at all BASF sites and at companies in which BASF is a majority shareholder. BASF uses an audit database to ensure that all sites and plants worldwide are audited. Our Responsible Care audit system complies with the ISO 19011 standard and is certified according to ISO 9001. 150 BASF production sites are certified in accordance with ISO 14001 and EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme). In addition, 54 sites worldwide are certified in accordance with OHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001.
In 2020, 112 environmental and safety audits at 60 sites were conducted based on the sites’ risk levels.
Safety in Production:
Global safety standards; strengthening risk awareness; comprehensive incident analyses; global experience and information exchange; implementation of digital solutions to enhance safety at 250 sites as of 2020.
BASF has committed itself to observing international labor and social standards, which it has embedded in its Global Code of Conduct. This encompasses internationally recognized labor norms as stipulated in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy of the International Labour Organization (ILO). BASF is committed to complying with these standards worldwide and implements them through a Compliance Program, a Group-wide guideline for compliance with international standards, close stakeholder dialogue and the monitoring of changes in national laws.
Source
BASF Report 2020: Integration of Sustainability: Stakeholder Engagement, p. 46
BASF Report 2020: Responsible Conduct Along the Value Chain, p. 110
BASF Report 2020: Environmental Protection, Health and Safety, p. 121, 122
BASF Report 2020: Employees: International Labor and Social Standards, p. 147, 150
Comment/Additional Information
BASF has been a member of the UN Global Compact since its establishment in 2000. As a recognized LEAD company, BASF contributes to the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and the associated goals. BASF supports projects such as the U.N. Global Compact’s Action Platforms on Decent Work in Global Supply Chains (SDG 8) and on Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and is a member of the U.N. Global Compact Expert Network. In addition, BASF is a founding member of a global sustainable finance initiative launched in December 2019 by a CFO taskforce. BASF is also active in 16 local Global Compact networks.
BASF stipulates mandatory global standards for safety, security, and environmental and health protection. A worldwide network of experts ensures that these are implemented. As part of a continuous improvement process, BASF regularly monitors progress toward its goals. In addition to the Accelerator sales target as well as the new CO2 targets, we have set ourselves further sustainability targets on responsible procurement, engaged employees, women in leadership positions, occupational health and safety, process safety and water management.
BASF Report 2020: Integration of Sustainability: Stakeholder Engagement, p. 46
BASF Report 2020: Environmental Protection, Health and Safety, p. 122
News release: BASF presents roadmap to climate neutrality
Workforce Health & Safety (SASB Code: RT-CH-320a.1)
Accounting metric
(1) Total recordable incident rate (TRIR) and
(2) Fatality rate for (a) direct employees and (b) contract employees
Information
(1) Total recordable incident rate: 0.3 accidents per 200,000 working hours
(2) Fatality rate: 1 fatality
(numbers include BASF employees, temporary employees and contractors)
Source
BASF Report 2020: Safety and security: Occupational Safety, p. 123
Efforts to assess, monitor, and reduce exposure of employees and contract workers to long-term (chronic) health risks (SASB Code: RT-CH-320a.1)
Accounting metric
Description of efforts to assess, monitor, and reduce exposure of employees and contract workers to long-term (chronic) health risks
Information
Global standards for corporate health management, Health Performance Index (HPI):
The HPI includes five components that are all weighted equally at 20% each: Recognized Occupational Diseases, Medical Emergency Preparedness, First Aid, Preventive Medicine, Health Promotion.
The HPI is the central steering instrument for BASF Corporate Health Management around the world. It also transparently reflects the requirements of the Global Reporting Initiative. Each component contributes a maximum of 0.2 to the total score, meaning that the highest possible score is 1.0. We aim to reach a value of more than 0.9 every year. With an HPI of 0.92, we once again reached this target in 2020.
Our aim is to avoid work-related illness completely through appropriate prevention. In general, BASF does not differentiate between employees (BASF, leasing or contractors), as there is no differentiation in our company health and safety management system. Regular site inspections or workplace visits are the basis for the overall occupational health assessment. Qualified risk assessments are the basis for evaluations and improvements to be derived. Occupational medical expertise is already incorporated into the planning of technical and organizational innovations in the company. The results of occupational medical examinations regarding possible health hazards from the workplace are analyzed.
Chemical, biological and physical hazards (including noise, vibration, radiation, exposure to heat and cold at the workplace), ergonomics and psychosocial hazards are assessed and controlled in regular operations. According to the hierarchy of control, the following measures are part of our health risk management:
- Elimination or substitution of health hazards
- Implementation or improvement of technical/engineering control measures
- Optimization of work organization (including minimization of frequency and duration of activities)
- Availability and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
In the reporting year 2020, 26 work-related diseases were documented as recognized occupational diseases among our direct employees worldwide. Deaths from work-related recognized diseases are not reported to BASF Group. The main work-related recognized diseases are occupational asthma, hearing loss, skin disease, musculoskeletal disease and cancer.
BASF’s pandemic plans activated in the course of the coronavirus pandemic contain measures to protect the health of employees, contractors and third parties, e.g., through hygiene concepts, tracing and breaking infection chains, providing information and raising awareness among employees.
Source
BASF Report 2020: Safety and security: Health Protection, p. 124
GRI and Global Compact Index: 403-10 2018 (Work-related ill health)
Comment/Additional Information
More information on our Corporate Health Management: Health Promotion