BASF achieves positive results in Germany

Towards the end of March this year, six years ahead of its self-imposed deadline, BASF in Germany achieved its targets for reduction of emissions to water. The past year saw significant progress overall regarding environmental, health and safety goals.

BASF aimed to achieve an 80-percent reduction in emissions of organic substances and nitrogen to water and to reduce heavy-metal emissions by 60 percent, compared to the baseline figure of 2002.

These targets were achieved, and exceeded in some cases, in 2014. Organic-substance emissions declined by 80 percent, nitrogen emissions by 85 percent and heavy-metal emissions by 64 percent.

Another BASF goal is to introduce sustainable water management, in accordance with the European Water Stewardship Standard, at all production sites in water stress areas by 2020. The percentage of certified sites rose from 11 percent in 2013 to 30 percent in 2014.

According to Ulrich von Deessen, head of the Environment, Health and Safety Centre of Expertise, and BASF’s climate protection officer: “These excellent figures are the result of our efforts over the past few years to make our production even more environmentally compatible.”

Positive trends were also evident in terms of health and safety goals. Transportation accidents continued to decline and were 64 percent below the baseline 2003 figure.

The rate of work-related accidents, per million hours worked, was down 54,5 percent compared to the baseline in 2002. “We are on the right track in the area of occupational safety. However, it is important for us that we continue to strengthen our safety culture, because one accident is one too many,” Von Deessen said.

BASF measures its health performance on the basis of the Health Performance Index (HPI), which has five components: confirmed occupational diseases, medical emergency drills, first aid training, preventive medicine and health promotion.

By 2020, BASF will conduct risk assessments for all products sold by BASF worldwide in quantities of more than one metric tonne per year. These are intended to support appropriate use that involves no risk to people or the environment. Since last year, assessments of this kind have been available for more than 62 percent of products.