BASF

BASF is the world’s largest chemical company, both in terms of revenue and its main production site, Ludwigshafen in Germany. The company produces numerous products – chemicals, plastics, performance products, functional solutions, agricultural solutions, oil and gas – and supplies a diversity of sectors, such as chemical, automotive, construction, agriculture, oil, plastics, electrical, electronics, furniture, and paper industries.

Total score

14 / 48

Grade summary

BASF produces 112 SIN List substances (including 14 persistent chemicals), with 39 of these officially recognised as chemicals of high concern by the EU. The company has a method in place to screen and assess the sustainability of…

Product Portfolio

1 / 18

BASF produces 112 SIN List substances, 39 of which are included on the REACH Candidate List, with ten of them also found on the REACH Authorisation List. The company produces 14 persistent chemicals. Persistent chemicals are particularly problematic since they do not break down, but instead accumulate in humans and the environment. Because of this, persistent chemicals should be of extra concern for investors. Substances that are not considered a problem today could become huge liabilities in the future.

Development of Safer Chemicals

6 / 12

BASF has a method in place to screen and assess the sustainability of its products and includes the intrinsic hazards of ingredients in the screening process. The company does not exclude substances with toxic properties from its new products or follow the principles of green chemistry. It does, however, make use of the GreenScreen assessment tool and actively markets safer alternatives on its website.

Management & Transparency

7 / 12

The German company has a timed phase-out strategy for hazardous substances and shares chemical safety information on its website. BASF is a member of Responsible Care and follows voluntary standards such as a Code of Conduct and a Supplier Code of Conduct.