Business News
BASF presents pioneering report
Thursday 13. March 2008 - Integration of financial, environmental and social data Gold standard in sustainability reporting All key information available in print and online
BASF SE has published its Report 2007, which for the first time combines the companys financial and sustainability reporting in a single publication. By integrating data related to the environment and social responsibility in its financial reporting, BASF is again playing a pioneering role. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an independent organization that has developed global guidelines to ensure transparent sustainability reporting, has already confirmed that the new report meets its highest application level, A+.
Because sustainability reporting is increasingly becoming part of financial reporting, the Report 2007 equally meets the expectations of investors, analysts, journalists and sustainability experts. The new report addresses aspects of BASFs business performance, employees, social responsibility as well as environmental and safety issues.
BASF is also taking account of the rising importance of the Internet by providing more detailed information on many topics from the Report 2007 online in the form of videos, diagrams, podcasts and interviews. Readers are able to compile specific information according to their interests.
For example, with just a few clicks, they can learn more about BASFs carbon balance, which shows that the companys products can save three times more carbon dioxide than the amount emitted in the production and disposal of all of BASFs products. Further topics are energy-efficient housing and construction, and demographic change. Under the keyword “mobility,” BASF describes how its tailor-made products help to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles. Catalysts, for example, cut emissions, while fuel additives reduce fuel consumption. Plastics from BASF are lighter than equivalent metal components and thus also reduce fuel consumption.
The online report provides a variety of new service elements such as an interactive comparison of important figures, a keyword search, a download manager and direct links to key topics. Readers can use the interactive comparison function to select individual parameters and periods and display the results in the form of a diagram.
The Report 2007 is available with immediate effect on the Internet at corporate.basf.com/report. Printed copies can be requested online at corporate.basf.com/mediaorders or by sending an e-mail to medien-service@basf.com. This year, 9,000 copies of the report have been published in English and 10,000 in German.
A short version of the report – BASF in Brief 2007 – has been designed with a broader public in mind. Together with key financial data, this publication contains short feature articles and will be sent to all shareholders together with the invitation to the Annual Meeting. BASF in Brief 2007 will also be provided in Germanys high-speed ICE trains in the coming weeks.