Climate change is one of the main challenges faced by society. Industries, science, politics and society need to curb further increases in greenhouse gas emissions and make efficient use of available resources. Innovative solutions developed by BASF contribute to protecting our climate.
We support the goals of the Kyoto Protocol and are committed to climate protection around the globe. This is a task that requires global action. We are facing up to this challenge and have revised and extended our global environmental goals in 2008. We will also be appointing a Climate Protection Officer in 2008, who, as a member of our Sustainability Council, will coordinate all BASF activities in the area of climate protection worldwide.
Alongside our internal efforts, our products and technologies make a significant contribution toward energy efficiency and climate protection. We published a carbon balance in 2008, and were the first company in industry to do so. This balance contrasts the CO2 emission-savings that are achieved with BASF products and procedures with the emissions from raw material extraction, production and product disposal. The results show that BASF products can save three times more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire amount caused by the production and disposal of all BASF products. These calculations have been checked and confirmed by the Öko-Institut in Freiburg, Germany.
One example of our energy-efficient products involves materials to improve thermal insulation in buildings, such as Neopor® and Micronal® PCM. We also offer plastics that make vehicles lighter, and additives that improve fuel consumption. For vehicles, a 10% reduction in weight equates to a reduction in fuel consumption of around 5%, while our fuel additives reduce consumption by a further 2%.
As a result of increasing pollution to the air and environment, the issues of energy efficiency and climate protection are becoming increasingly important, especially in Asia. Bearing this in mind, we are participating from 2007 to 2010 in an initiative called “Germany and China – Moving Ahead Together.” Using innovative BASF products, we are demonstrating how both construction and mobility can be made energy efficient and therefore more environmentally friendly.
Our nitrification inhibitor is an example of a product for the agricultural industry. The use of fertilizers releases large quantities of nitrous oxide through the decomposition of nitrogen in the soil. Our nitrification inhibitor ensures that the nitrogen contained in fertilizers is metabolized more slowly by bacteria in the soil, thus resulting in a reduction in nitrous oxide. The fertilizer can supply crops with nutrients for longer, and the soil requires fertilization much less frequently. More than 400,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year are saved in this way.
More information on our products and technologies can be found on solutions for global challenges.
Tasks of the Climate Protection Officer
The Climate Protection Officer is a member of BASF’s Sustainability Council and coordinates all BASF activities in this area worldwide. This includes topics such as greenhouse gas emissions, production and disposal as well as the long-term positioning of BASF in the area of climate protection. BASF’s Climate Protection officer will also establish networks with business units and research.
