Sustainability

Responsible Production

We act responsibly to minimize risks and to protect people as well as the environment. Working in a chemical company is associated with potential risks to health and safety. To effectively address these, we rely on a comprehensive EHSQ management system based on the Responsible Care^® principle. This enables us to establish global standards in areas such as process safety, occupational safety, health, and environmental protection.

Responsible Care Management System

Responsible Care^® (RC) is the chemical industry’s voluntary initiative for continuous improvement in the fields of environment, health and safety. Through the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), national chemical associations and their members commit to safe chemicals management, stakeholder engagement, and product stewardship, contributing to sustainable development and global chemical safety frameworks.
Since its launch in the mid‑1980s, Responsible Care^®has grown into a worldwide movement. Today, over 90 of the world’s 100 largest chemical companies are signatories, committing to safer workplaces and stronger health & safety standards; reduced resource use and lower CO₂ emissions; smarter chemical management across the value chain and transparent engagement with stakeholders.

At BASF, we have been committed to Responsible Care^® since 1992. To operationalize this commitment, BASF introduced a Responsible Care Management System in 2007. This system applies to all BASF Group companies and majority‑owned entities and defines Group‑wide requirements and standards across the value chain. Integrated into our Policy for Environmental, Health, Safety and Quality, the Responsible Care Management System ensures global standards for process safety, occupational safety, health, and environmental protection.

Process Safety

Process safety is a core element of safe, efficient, and responsible production. It plays a material role in preventing pollution-related impacts by reducing environmental risks and ensuring the long‑term safe and reliable operation of our facilities.

Energy

Energy efficiency and renewable energy reduce emissions while simultaneously minimizing process‑related risks and environmental pollution.

focused image of wheat and Out of focus BASF site in the background

Environmental Protection

We want to minimize the impact of our operations on people and the environment and improve continuously our environmental performance. We act responsibly and protect the environment by reducing emissions and waste and promoting environmentally friendly waste management.

Occupational Safety

The protection of people and the environment is our top priority. We ensure safe working conditions in order to protect BASF employees, contractors and our neighbors.

Transportation and Distribution Safety

We want to ensure safe transport, handling and storage of our products. To do this, we stipulate globally standardized parameters.

Product Responsibility

We continuously work to ensure that our products pose no risk to people and the environment when used responsibly and in the manner intended. With our commitment to Product Stewardship as part of the Responsible Care Initiative, the Global Product Strategy and other initiatives of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), we are dedicated to continuously minimizing the negative influences of our products on safety, health and environment along the value chain – from development to disposal.

Corporate Health Management

We are responsible for the management of occupational health of BASF employees, the management of medical emergencies at the BASF Ludwigshafen site, and the coordination and auditing of occupational medicine in BASF group companies worldwide.

Emergency Response

We are well prepared for potential incidents. Our global Emergency Response Management System provides the access to expertise in the field of emergency response throughout the BASF Group and for our partners.

Audits

Acting responsibly according to the guidelines of Responsible Care is for us a long term investment: we want to continuously improve our environmental, health and safety performance and to monitor this progress. Carrying out regular audits at all our sites worldwide helps us to do this.

engineer working at BASF production site at night overlooking the city

Safety

We value the health and safety of people above all else. We focus on prevention in order to design and operate safe plants worldwide and to transport, handle and store our products safely. We respond to emergencies by being well prepared at all times and at all sites.