March 18, 2010
FLORHAM PARK, NJ – BASF today announced that it is the first chemical company to become a member of The Sustainability Consortium, an independent organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives innovation to improve consumer product sustainability. The company joins other retailers and consumer product manufacturers that have become members of the Consortium and its product "life cycle" mission, including social and environmental considerations.
"At BASF, we are committed to leading industry toward greater sustainability, transparency and responsible interaction with both the environment and society," said Kurt Bock, CEO, BASF Corporation. "The mission of The Sustainability Consortium aligns well with that commitment -- we are pleased to join a coalition of companies and individuals similarly dedicated to the advancement of sustainable consumer products and supply networks."
In keeping with its long-standing strategic commitment to sustainable development, BASF developed its Eco-Efficiency Analysis in 1996. This life-cycle approach to quantifying the sustainability of products, processes or whole system solutions accounts for both economic and environmental impact. Since the introduction of this tool, BASF has performed more than 400 comprehensive analyses for its business units, external partners and customers. NSF International validated BASF's Eco-Efficiency Analysis methodology in 2009 and it has also been certified by the German Association for Technical Inspection (TÜV Berlin).
The Consortium was established as a means to tackle the challenge of sustainability in the face of unprecedented growth. As consumers become more sophisticated about their purchasing decisions, and as natural resources become more limited, the Consortium is dedicated to driving innovation so that consumers are empowered to consume in a more sustainable way.
"We are pleased to welcome BASF into the Sustainability Consortium, and we look forward to a fruitful and productive partnership ahead," said Dr. Jay S. Golden, Co-Director of the Sustainability Consortium. "BASF will contribute an experienced team of experts collectively focused on a scientific approach to sustainable consumption. Together we will spur a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social and economic imperatives."
In 2008, a lifecycle analysis was conducted on BASF products to assess related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and savings– from sourcing of raw materials to manufacture to product disposal. This pioneering carbon footprint study, which was validated by the Eco-Institute in Freiburg, Germany, concluded that the net reduction of GHG emissions resulting from the use of BASF's products outweighed emissions related to production, transport and disposal by a factor of 3:1. The study was updated in October of 2009 and produced similar results. Moving forward, BASF will strive to maintain or improve this ratio.
Co-administered by Arizona State University and the University of Arkansas, the Consortium will research and publish findings on the life-cycle impacts of various product categories. Together, the Consortium will provide decision and policymakers with a broader understanding of how new and innovative organizational strategies and technologies can assist in meeting various environmental, economic and social objectives.
BASF - The Chemical Company
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $13 billion in 2009. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.
BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
About the Sustainability Consortium
The Sustainability Consortium is an independent organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives innovation to improve consumer product sustainability. It develops transparent methodologies, tools and strategies to drive a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social and economic imperatives. The Sustainability Consortium advocates for a transparent process and system, not individuals or organizations. Arizona State University' and the University of Arkansas jointly administer the Sustainability Consortium.
Learn more at www.sustainabilityconsortium.org.
The Sustainability Consortium is a part of the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University (ASU); and the Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas.
The Global Institute of Sustainability is the hub of ASU's sustainability initiatives and home to the first of its kind School of Sustainability; it works to advance research, education, and business practices for an urbanizing world (http://sustainability.asu.edu).
The Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas leads organizations in the retail and consumer goods industries toward sustainable practices that support an economy built around people, planet, and profit. The center is part of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and serves multiple disciplines across campus (http://asc.uark.edu).
For more information contact:
Daniel Pepitone
BASF Corporation
(973) 245-7168
Karen Leland
The Sustainability Consortium
Arizona State University/University of Arkansas
(480) 965-0013
E-mail: karen.leland@asu.edu