BASF in Greater China Issues First Report on Economic, Environmental, and Social Performance   

By Tanya Tian  

Since the 1990s, BASF has invested more than Euro 2 billion in the Greater China area, with major investments coming on stream in Nanjing and Shanghai from 2005. Sales have grown around 20% each year over the past decade. During this growth period, BASF also improved key emission data through continuous optimization and innovation. BASF Greater China issued July 8th the first report on seven key financial, social and environmental indicators.
    In 2008, emissions of greenhouse gases from BASF's chemical operations in Greater China amounted to 1.8 million tons, a reduction of 5.2% compared to 2007. This was achieved mainly through technological upgrades of plants.
    Energy efficiency, defined as primary energy consumption (fuel, electricity, steam) per ton of product, was improved and helped BASF reduce its overall energy consumption in Greater China, thereby also lowering emissions. In Greater China, energy efficiency increased by 50% between 2002 and 2008.
    BASF continually optimizes its production processes in order to minimize air and water pollution as well as waste. Emissions of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia and other inorganic compounds, dust, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds in Greater China amounted to 950 tons in 2008. This corresponds to a 10% reduction compared with 2007. The reduction in air pollutants was achieved despite an increase in production volumes in the same period, mainly by implementing process innovations.
    BASF is gradually reducing water consumption and is reusing as much water as possible. In 2008, the company used 12.9 million cubic meters of water in Greater China (a reduction of 4.4% compared to 13.5 million cubic meters in 2007). The majority of this amount was used for cooling.
    BASF in Greater China discharged a total of 7.3 million cubic meters (a reduction of 37% compared to 11.5 million cubic meters in 2007) of wastewater. The quality of all of BASF's wastewater fulfilled local regulatory requirements as well as BASF's own global standards.
   Emissions of organic substances to water amounted to 456 metric tons in 2008 (minus 42% compared with 787 tons in 2007). The emission of nitrogen to water was about 80 tons (minus 11% compared with 90 tons in 2007). In 2008, emissions of heavy metals amounted to one ton, 83% less than the year before.
   In 2008, BASF generated around 42 200 tons of solid waste in Greater China (minus 25% compared with 56 300 tons in 2007). Around 66% of this waste was recycled or subjected to thermal recovery. The remainder was disposed of by incineration (31%) or landfills (3%). The aim is to further reduce the amount of solid waste generated and to improve the recycling quota.
   The lost time injury rate in Greater China was 0.4 per million working hours in 2008, a reduction of 50% compared to 2007 (0.8 per million working hours). No work fatality was recorded in 2008.
   BASF has about 6 300 employees in Greater China and posted sales of about Euro 4.2 billion in 2008. The company operates 19 BASF wholly owned subsidiaries and 10 BASF joint ventures in Greater China.