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Sustainable
Development: BASF Walks the Talk |
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BASF has committed itself to the principles
of sustainable development as one of
its corporate goals. Realizing these
principles on a day-to-day basis at
a global company is a major challenge
because the economic, environmental,
social and cultural framework differs
from country to country. |
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The Economic Dimension of
Sustainable Development |
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BASF entered the China market in 1885.
Over the past 120 years, BASF has become
one of the largest foreign investors
in China’s chemical industry. |
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The company currently has over 4,000
employees and operates 16 wholly owned
subsidiaries and 8 joint ventures. In
order to stay in tune with local markets,
the company maintains 8 offices in Hong
Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou,
Nanjing, Qingdao, Chengdu and Taipei.
In 2005, BASF achieved sales of close
to EUR 2.8 billion in Greater China..
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The Environmental Dimension of Sustainable Development |
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Economic considerations do not take
priority over environmental protection
at BASF. In 2003, the costs of operating
environmental protection facilities
throughout the BASF Group amounted to
EUR667 million. In the same period,
we also invested EUR159 million in new
and improved environmental protection
plants and facilities. These capital
expenditures cover both end-of-pipe
measures and production-integrated environmental
protection measures. |
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Responsible Care®:
This is a global initiative by the chemical
industry to continuously improve its
performance in the fields of environmental
protection, safety and health. BASF
committed itself to the concept of responsible
action as early as 1992. Internal key
initiatives in Asia Pacific include
safety, health and environment audits,
industry certification, emergency response
and waste treatment, as well as training
workshops and road shows. In China,
our external activities comprise education
programs for schools and universities,
CAP-like initiatives (CAP = Community
Advisory Panel) and audits of third
parties such as suppliers and contractors.
BASF also provides training on safety
and product stewardship to customers
and distributors. |
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Eco-efficiency analysis:
BASF pioneered the eco-efficiency analysis.
This strategic tool allows us to consider
both financial and environmental aspects
in the product development and optimization
processes and then choose the most eco-efficient
solution. The analysis looks at the
complete lifecycle of a product from
raw material extraction to recycling
or disposal. This cradle-to-grave comparison
with other products and processes then
enables BASF to develop the best possible
products with the highest environmental
and cost efficiency. |
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Further reduction of global
emissions to air and water by 2012:
BASF Group announced in July
2003 its long-term and global environmental
and safety goals in the fields of emissions
to air and water; occupational and distribution
safety; and product stewardship. |
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| Reduction to emissions to air |
Goals 2012 |
| Greenhouse gases per metric
tons of sales product |
-10% |
| Air pollutants |
-40% |
| Reduction to emissions to water |
2012 Goals |
| Organic substances |
-60% |
| Nitrogen |
-60% |
| Heavy metals |
-30% |
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In the last two years, BASF came another
step closer to achieving these ambitious
goals. For instance, emission of heavy
metals to water was cut by 23 percent
compared to 2002, with efforts made
to optimize wastewater treatment plants.
Greenhouse gas emissions per metric
ton of sales product were also reduced
by 1.4 percent despite increasing production
by 13 percent, while lost time accidents
were down by 40 percent. BASF Greater
China is an important contributor to
all of the above achievements. |
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Just like other countries in Asia
Pacific, China has its own environmental
regulations that specify limits of emissions
to air, emissions to water and solid
wastes which are strictly followed.
Monitoring systems are also clearly
defined, such as periodic checks by
authorized agencies in China. BASF collects
data of emission inventory from individual
sites regularly and publishes a Responsible
Care Report. The data serve as the basis
for continuous improvements. Each site
will commit yearly to environmental
targets. |
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Innovation-integrated environmental protection |
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Environmental friendliness is an important factor in turning a product innovation
into a business success. Take the example of our gasoline additives, KeropurŪ. Even
if used in small quantities (500ml per 1000l of gasoline), Keropur still forms a protective
film on metal surfaces, which prevents deposits from developing inside manifolds and ports.
This will give your car a clean intake system that can ensure the ideal mixture of fuel and
air for efficient combustion. A BASF study has demonstrated that over a car's lifetime, Keropur
can reduce air emissions by 1.1 metric tons. Industry research has further proven that gasoline
additives reduce up to 20% of Hydrocarbons (HC), 24% of Carbon Monoxide (CO), and 13% of
Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) in exhaust emissions. The product was launched in China in August 2002. |
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Black ensilage®
is another example of BASF’s contribution
to Sustainable Development in China.
BASF is the first company who has successfully
developed black ensilage – acidifying
the corn stalk after harvest in order
to maintain its freshness and nutrition.
Its namesake comes from the fact that
the fermented corn stalk becomes black
in color. The new feed can substantially
improve on nutrition, save farmland
resources, protect natural meadows and
the environment. All these are beneficial
to the sustainable development of stock
farming in China. |
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Ecoflex® is a
bioderadable polyester based on fossil
raw materials. It is being used predominantly
to improve the functionality of renewable
raw materials like starch, cellulos
but also to improve properties from
polymers like PHA`s (polyhydroxyalkanoates)
or PLA (polylacticacid). With an improved
functionality of renewable materials,
these products can open more/new applications
and consequently save valuable fossil
energy and reduce carbon dioxyde emissions.
Biodegradable packaging made from Ecoflex
or blend formulations containing Ecoflex
breaks down completely under conditions
such as found in compost heaps within
just a few weeks without leaving any
residues. Because of the certified biodegradability
of Ecoflex, conventional plastic waste
from certain applications can be reduced. |
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State of the art production
facilities: As in other countries,
BASF’s plants in China are equipped
with state-of-the-art technology, which
ensures competitive ability worldwide.
All sales companies and representative
offices as well as production facilities
of BASF in Greater China have obtained
ISO 9000 certification since 2000. Most
have attained ISO 14000 accreditation. |
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