Better Health for All
-10
BASF has faced significant issues related to health externalities and risk transparency. In May 2024, the company agreed to pay $316.5 million to settle claims that its firefighting foam contaminated U.S. public water systems with PFAS, substances linked to cancer and liver damage.
1
This indicates major health-harming externalities and significant undisclosed risks. Additionally, a lawsuit was filed in October 2023 to overturn a settlement concerning decades of toxic waste dumping in Toms River, New Jersey, by BASF's predecessor, which led to increased childhood cancer rates.
2
Local residents and environmental groups deemed the remediation efforts insufficient.
3
Despite these challenges, BASF has made positive contributions to global health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, its 'Helping Hands' campaign produced over 900,000 liters of disinfectant and procured more than 100 million masks for frontline workers.
4
The company also actively combats malaria by distributing over 61 million Interceptor® G2 mosquito nets across African countries since 2019, saving an estimated 61,000 lives.
5
Furthermore, BASF has provided Abate® larvicide for free since 1988 to aid in the eradication of Guinea worm disease in vulnerable communities.
6
For its employees, BASF offers a comprehensive global health promotion program, including a Health Check focusing on lifestyle diseases and stress management, annual health campaigns, and a Mental Health Alliance.
7
It also provides health education through these programs.
8
Fair Money & Economic Opportunity
0
BASF SE is primarily a chemical company. The provided articles do not contain specific, quantifiable data points related to the financial services-focused Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for 'Fair Money & Economic Opportunity'. While some initiatives like micro-financing opportunities for rural women (Article 6) and assistance for minority-owned businesses (Article 13) are mentioned, they lack the specific metrics (e.g., percentage of customers, share of loan book, APRs, or revenue from financial products) required to score against the rubric's thresholds for these KPIs. Therefore, all KPIs are omitted due to a lack of direct, quantifiable evidence.
Fair Pay & Worker Respect
50
For 2024, BASF reported that all employees receive adequate wages.
1
Approximately 91% of BASF employees work under conditions based on collective agreements with trade unions or internal employee representative bodies.
2
The rate of recordable work-related injuries was 3.78 per 1,000,000 working hours in 2024, which translates to 0.756 per 200,000 hours.
3
There were no fatalities for BASF employees in 2024, though two fatal work-related injuries involved contractors.
4
The voluntary employee turnover rate for 2024 was 7.2%.
5
In 2024, 1.88% of the workforce were temporary employees, with 0% on non-guaranteed hours.
6
In August 2022, Flemish labor inspectors discovered illegal employment by a subcontractor at BASF's Antwerp site, which BASF addressed by terminating the subcontractor's access.
7
In 2024, BASF divested from two joint ventures in China due to serious allegations of human rights abuses related to the joint venture partner, although BASF's audits found no evidence of violations at the joint ventures themselves.
8
Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing
-20
In March 2023, Brazilian authorities found inhumane working conditions and child labor, legally defined as forced labor, on BASF's supplying rice farms
1
. BASF responded by terminating the contract with one partner, participating in compensation, and implementing additional preventive and training measures
2
. The company has a Supplier Code of Conduct prohibiting forced and child labor
3
and operates a global Compliance Hotline for human rights concerns
4
. BASF is a founding member of the 'Together for Sustainability' (TfS) initiative, standardizing supplier evaluations and audits
5
. In 2024, BASF conducted 118 audits of raw material supplier sites and received sustainability assessments for 328 suppliers
6
. Supplier training programs are also in place, including workshops in Brazil
7
. Its active ingredient Lipofructyl™ Argan has been re-awarded 'Fair For Life' certification
8
. In 2023, BASF published its first Responsible Sourcing Report for its Care Chemicals division, extending its focus to include coconut oil, castor oil, and bio-based active ingredients
9
. Challenges persist, with potential exposure to forced labor risks in Xinjiang, China, among the Uighur minority, though BASF claims no forced labor at its sites
10
.
Honest & Fair Business
0
BASF SE incurred approximately $316.8 million in ethics-related regulatory fines between 2022 and 2024, including a significant PFAS violation.
1
The company received an EcoVadis CSR rating of 75, and its consolidated financial statements underwent limited assurance by an auditor.
2
BASF maintains a global, standardized Compliance Hotline, open to employees and external stakeholders, offering anonymity and prohibiting retaliation.
3
In 2024, the hotline received 751 reports, and mandatory training on the Code of Conduct, which covers whistleblower protection, is provided with refreshers every two years.
4
The entire consolidated financial statements and combined management report for 2024 were audited.
5
BASF has a robust anti-corruption policy, including a Zero Gift Policy, risk-based due diligence for business partners with an IT application for screening, and mandatory training.
6
There were no convictions for anti-corruption or anti-bribery violations in 2024.
7
Kind to Animals
10
BASF develops and continuously optimizes alternative methods to animal testing, employing 35 alternative methods in its laboratories with 14 more in development (as of 2020).
1
They use an OECD-certified alternative testing strategy, developed jointly with Givaudan, for animal-free testing of allergic skin reactions, approved by OECD in 2021.
2
In 2022, BASF's Experimental Toxicology and Ecology institute was certified for Good In Vitro Method Practices (GIVIMP).
3
The company invests "seven-digit annual investments"
4
and €3.5 million (in 2020) in non-animal testing methods.
5
Its animal testing policy states that animal studies are generally conducted only when legally required, adhering to the German Animal Welfare Act and AAALAC requirements, with a commitment to replacing, reducing, or refining animal studies.
6
BASF is involved in networks like the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA).
7
They are part of an ECHA-funded consortium (€4.2 million over six years) to develop guidelines for New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) as alternatives to animal testing.
8
They collaborated with Modern Meadow for an animal-free leather alternative,
9
introduced the license-free LuSens in vitro test in China with IIVS,
10
and provided IIVS with opacitometer kits for the BCOP assay.
11
This work with ECHA also represents active engagement in animal welfare policy improvement by contributing to the development of higher standards for alternative testing. For wildlife conservation, BASF has established habitat and conservation education initiatives since 2002.
12
They have 10 sites in North America with Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certification,
13
and 15 more are in process.
14
Initiatives include native revegetation, reforestation, bat houses, pollinator habitats, native game bird reintroductions, and invasive species control (e.g., hiring 40 goats for 4 weeks in Rensselaer in 2023).
15
Fighting Island, a 1,500-acre site, has been transformed into a biodiversity resource and outdoor classroom, hosting over 30,000 students.
16
BASF also has biodiversity initiatives in Brazil and Ethiopia.
17
The company's core business does not involve animal agriculture operations, but it partners to improve the environmental impact and animal well-being in the feed and animal protein industry.
18
No War, No Weapons
-10
BASF's guidelines for community advisory panels are based on the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
1
, and the company participates in the UN Global Compact, integrating human rights due diligence
2
. In 2023, engagement with external stakeholders through its Human Rights Advisory Council was evaluated as part of an audit on human rights governance
3
. For conflict minerals, in 2024, all relevant EU-imports of metals listed in the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation had suppliers who demonstrated their smelters and refiners were audited by third-party verification bodies
4
and conformed with a supply chain due diligence scheme
5
.
Planet-Friendly Business
-70
BASF's total CO₂ emissions were 16.9 million tons in 2023.
1
The company sourced 4.8% of its operational energy consumption from renewables in 2023.
2
BASF agreed to a $316.5 million settlement for PFAS chemical contamination.
3
Additionally, a revised settlement for Toms River pollution, which included increased compensation and conservation land, still faces local dissatisfaction over its perceived inadequacy.
4
Respect for Cultures & Communities
30
BASF has established at least 22 distinct formal partnerships, including collaborations with the Zhanjiang Birds Watching Society Association, Maitian Education Foundation, Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, and participation in initiatives like the Responsible Lithium Partnership and the KAJVE Sustainable Coffee initiative with Solidaridad and UNESCO.
1
,
2
,
3
The company also provides a global compliance hotline, accessible to external stakeholders in over 50 languages, serving as a grievance mechanism.
4
No cultural appropriation incidents have been reported in the provided articles. However, BASF has demonstrated reactive responses to cultural incidents. In 2024, it immediately suspended an indirect supplier in its palm oil supply chain following allegations of disproportionate use of force against affected communities.
5
Additionally, in response to reports of potential involvement in state surveillance activities affecting Uyghurs in Xinjiang, BASF announced plans to divest from its joint venture in the region in 2024.
6
Safe & Smart Tech
0
BASF adheres to seven Ethical Principles for AI, which include transparency, accountability, and privacy preservation.
1
The company's IT security is certified to DIN EN ISO/IEC 27001:2017, an international standard.
2
BASF also emphasizes data protection through transparent privacy policies compliant with legal standards and has appointed a Data Protection Officer.
3
In 2023, 70,000 employees received cybersecurity training.
4
BASF collaborates with other major companies, co-founding the German Cybersecurity Organisation.
5
Zero Waste & Sustainable Products
-50
BASF diverted 50% of its total waste for new uses in 2024.
1
However, only 0.04% of raw materials purchased in 2024 were recycled.
2
The company has a Group-wide circular economy program with over 50 initiatives since 2019.
3
Circular economy is a core element of BASF’s sustainability strategy.
4
BASF aims to generate €10 billion in sales from Loop Solutions by 2030.
5
The company requires suppliers to comply with internationally recognized environmental standards, including waste management, and supports them in implementing improvements.
6
BASF also educates customers on proper disposal of paint products through its Suvinil Circula program.
7