BASF and A-Road launch long-lasting indoor and outdoor flooring solution made with natural cork chips

• Durable surface is ideal for public facilities such as playgrounds, schoolyards, trails, and sidewalks
• Alternative to rubber-based materials, with lower environmental impact

Seoul, Korea – April 20, 2017 – BASF and A-Road have co-developed a durable new outdoor and indoor flooring material produced with natural cork chips, which offers an alternative to conventional rubber-based surfaces. The solution consists of a unique mix of high-elasticity binder, developed by BASF, and cork chip flooring materials, developed by A-Road, a Korean paving company.

The new solution offers a lower environmental impact than conventional rubber-based flooring, making it especially suitable for public applications such as children's playgrounds, schoolyards, trails, and sidewalks.

“We are delighted to collaborate with BASF to co-create a sustainable flooring solution,” said Jae-chul So, President of A-Road. “We look forward to working with BASF in the future on flooring solutions that support healthy outdoor living.”

“Bio-based materials like cork can offer an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional flooring. This solution can also help protect groundwater due to its excellent permeability. Through this cooperation with A-Road, we are demonstrating our commitment to bringing innovative and sustainable flooring solutions to Korea, and to driving innovation in the flooring industry," said Andy Postlethwaite, Senior Vice President, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF.

The flooring maintains a low surface temperature of 5.8°C in the summer, and thaws better in winter than conventional rubberized flooring materials. It also has a high deodorization rate. For example, it is capable of deodorizing 100% of ammonia in 60 minutes. It also has an antibacterial power of 99.9% and a tensile strength of 1.7-0.7MPa, which is higher than the KS standard (0.6Mpa). In addition, it lasts longer than conventional flooring. Its filtration capacity is excellent for drainage, contributing to its durability.

The flooring solution has been installed in an indoor rock climbing gym in Ha-nam Starfield, at a children’s playground in Gim-hae and in the schoolyard of Seoul Global High School.

About BASF’s Performance Materials Division
BASF’s Performance Materials division encompasses the entire materials know-how of BASF regarding innovative, customized plastics under one roof. Globally active in four major industry sectors – transportation, construction, industrial applications and consumer goods – the division has a strong portfolio of products and services combined with a deep understanding of application-oriented system solutions. Key drivers of profitability and growth are our close collaboration with customers and a clear focus on solutions. Strong capabilities in R&D provide the basis to develop innovative products and applications. In 2016, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of € 6.8 billion. More information online: www.performance-materials.basf.com

About BASF in Korea
BASF has been a committed partner to Korea since 1954. As a leading foreign investor in the Korean chemical industry, BASF operates seven world-scale production sites in Korea. BASF maintains an R&D center in Suwon and four technical development centers in Korea. The Asia Pacific headquarters of BASF’s Electronic Materials business is located in Seoul. BASF posted sales to customers in Korea of approximately €1.1 billion in 2016, and employed 1,105 employees in Korea as at December 31, 2016. For further information please visit: www.basf.com/kr.

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.