Together with BASF we want to contribute to a world that provides a viable future with enhanced quality of life for everyone. BASF does so by creating chemistry for our customers and by making the best use of available resources. To optimize the contribution to a sustainable future, BASF measures the overall impact of economic, environmental and social aspects of its business activities with their Value to Society methodology. BASF supports the United Nations in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and we are committed to the Paris Climate Agreement.
Sustainable Development at BTC Europe
The principle of Sustainable Development is central to all our activities. For us, Sustainable Development means combining long-term commercial success with environmental and social responsibility. In this way, we help to ensure a quality future for ourselves and for generations to come.
As part of the Responsible Care® initiative, we work on the continuous improvement of our safety, health and environmental protection performance and assist our customers and suppliers in their own efforts. Wherever in the world we are located, we readily accept our responsibility as an employer, a local business partner and as a reliable factor in the local economy. We also encourage our business partners to do the same. In this way, we can create the basis for further sustainable growth.
With our management systems and sustainability tools, we create value both for ourselves and for our partners in business and society. Lasting commercial success in the spirit of Sustainable Development is a binding part of our values and principles.
Sustainability is an important innovative approach which we can use to determine the needs of customers and end consumers more effectively, which in turn are reflected in the form of forward-looking products and services. We view this as a long-term competitive advantage. For example, with the aid of our eco-efficiency analysis, we can demonstrate to customers which products and procedures are best suited for their special applications both from a business and an ecological point of view. This is valued more and more by our customers as a feature of our system solutions.
Responsible Care®
Responsible Care® is a voluntary global initiative brought about by the chemical industry with the aim of bringing about ongoing environmental, safety and health improvements. BTC is committed to the goals and principles of Responsible Care®. By implementing these, we contribute to the ecological dimension of Sustainable Development.The Responsible Care® initiative was first established by the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association in 1986 in response to public concerns about health, safety and environmental issues and soon gained acceptance internationally.
Product safety
Knowing the impact of our substances means safety – for customers, end consumers and the general public. Given our commitment to Responsible Care®, it goes without saying that we inform our customers about our products. This information comes in the form of safety data sheets which ensure that our customers are familiar with the properties of the products in question and that they know how to avoid the risks which these entail.
As well as this, we provide them with detailed information about our products with regard to the following aspects:
- Transport law (dangerous goods)
- Trade controls
- Hazardous substances law
- Waste disposal issues
- Registration in chemical inventories
- Suitability of our products for use with foodstuffs
- General queries relating to chemical legislation
One of the main principles of Responsible Care® is that corporations assume responsibility for continuously improving their performance in the areas of safety, health and environmental protection. Here at BTC, we interact closely with our customers, partners and all areas of the chemicals industry to develop continuous process optimisations. Health, safety and environmental protection are given top priority in all our activities.
Certificate of Responsible Care (PDF, 946KB)
Compliance Program
As a member of the BASF Group, BTC Europe has set out “values and principles” committing it to responsibility and integrity in its activities. The integrity of all employees is essential for the success of BTC, since breaches of the law and competition violations have a negative impact on the image of a company and the trust placed in it by its partners. In view of this, we perceive the integrity value not only as the benchmark for our activities, but also as an important element of risk management. The integrity value is set out in concrete terms in the Compliance Program.
Codes of conduct are central to the BASF Group Compliance Program. The aim of this extensive program is to firmly establish the code of conduct in the everyday work and the consciences of all employees by means of information and vocational training. The Compliance Program helps employees to understand the conduct which is expected of them by summarising the central legal regulations and relevant company policy in the form of a set of guidelines.
The Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for managing and developing this program across the Group. The program includes systematic introductions and training for employees according to the work which their position involves.
Compliance with all legislation aimed at protecting people and the environment is one of the company’s basic principles, for both legal and ethical reasons. This applies to our products as well as to our processes.
Our company policy is to promote fair competition. In view of this, employees are expected to abide by all antitrust laws and regulations.
Employees may not use their knowledge of confidential internal projects and processes for personal purposes or for personal gain.
Various national and international trade laws restrict or prohibit the import and export of certain products. These restrictions may be due to the 'chemistry’ of the products, to the country of origin or destination or to the identity of the customer (embargo). We comply with these laws and restrictions.
All employees are required to use company property in a responsible manner. Company property also includes intangible assets such as know-how, industrial property rights and communications facilities. Our inventions, patents and know-how are of vital importance for the long-term success of our company.
Various countries, including Germany and its fellow EU Member States, have passed laws prohibiting money laundering. BTC Europe abides by these laws.
Suppliers and customers must be dealt with fairly. The company expects the same from its suppliers and customers. The private interests of employees and the interests of the company must be kept strictly separate.
BASF-Verbund
One of the outstanding strengths of BTC Europe is that it is a member of the BASF integrated network known as the Verbund. As part of the world’s leading chemicals group, we reap the benefits of the Verbund and are able to use resources extremely efficiently. In view of this, the BASF Verbund can well be said to be a vital competitive advantage.The Verbund allows us to offer our customers a comprehensive product portfolio complete with first-class logistics.
Another crucial factor for success is the knowledge network created by BASF and BTC employees through the international exchange of information and ideas.
Preserving resources through the energy network
By linking the facilities in the production network, it was possible to create efficient value chains ranging from basic chemicals to high-grade products such as coatings or crop protection products.
These network structures not only allow members of the BASF network to reduce production costs, but are also instrumental in protecting the environment.
The Verbund creates opportunities to cut down on emissions, waste and resource consumption as well as minimising transport routes. Networking the production facilities has given rise to important value chains and the by-products and waste products of one plant can be used as raw material for another.
The production facilities are connected by a dense network of pipes, an environmentally sound means of transport which conveys raw materials and energy sources to their destination quickly and securely.This principle, which originated in Ludwigshafen, has since been applied and developed in locations all over the world. Every day, this principle is implemented actively and responsibly by the individual Verbund members.
The BASF Verbund – meaning integrated network – stems from the longstanding production network of the main plant in Ludwigshafen, where integrated production structures were already being developed in the late 19th century.
