Jürgen's story

Jürgen is a big believer in the power of small acts to achieve great things. He knows it takes more than a thousand of his bees to collect nectar to make a jar of honey – that it takes joint dedication to make a big difference in the long run.

In the same way, Jürgen is proud of the small but important role he plays supporting the BASF researchers who develop precursors for electric vehicle battery materials. Joining the company in 1982, he is now an experienced plant foreman. As a third-generation BASF employee, heritage is important to Jürgen – in particular, the world he’s leaving to his two daughters:

That’s what makes Jürgen’s work a labor of love: understanding that his role with BASF allows him to play a part in driving a world still reliant on fossil fuels towards more sustainable and climate-friendly solutions.

He’s excited about the advances in e-mobility that are directly linked to powerful batteries. But he points out that when it comes to batteries, the entire life cycle must be considered: “When you use batteries, you must have a way to recycle them so that the raw materials are not lost and can be reused and kept in the cycle as long as possible. I do my best, in my own way, to help make things better in this regard.” Circular sustainability is a concept that’s central to Jürgen’s way of life – professionally and personally. He’s dedicated to his “small but important” role inside and outside the office.

Jürgen is devoted not only to EVs, but to his own hive of bees. In exchange for their honey, he’s committed to their care, ensuring they have the perfect conditions to develop. He’s keenly aware of their importance to the ecosystem. It takes true passion to keep bees without gloves, as he does, but it’s the perfect example of circular sustainability in action. “If you take the honey, you have to feed them. Because they don’t make the honey for us, they make it for themselves,” he explains.

When asked about his own EV, there’s a sparkle in his eyes. He first stumbled across his beloved converted Suzuki Splash (one of only 250 made) on eBay six years ago. Outbid by only €100, he’d given up on the auction... until the Luxembourg-based owner reached out to say the sale had fallen through and the car could be his if he wanted to collect it. Jürgen made the 300km journey without hesitation and now his EV is his main mode of transport. He still owns a diesel car for long journeys, but he has actually clocked up more kilometers in the EV.

Jürgen’s message is simple.