BASF Publishes Its Responsible Sourcing Report

BASF has recently released the second edition of its Responsible Sourcing Report (RSR).

The report documents the progress made in 2023 in the three pillars:

Sustainability
Economy
environment and society

It is also an endorsement of BASF's commitment to sustainability, demonstrating the company’s dedication to supporting smallholder farmers and promoting sustainable practices.

As in the previous year, the publication focuses on the key raw materials of the Care Chemicals segment, which is addressing the challenges of the future and underpinning Care 360°– Solutions for Sustainable Life with the pillars of sustainability, digitalization, innovation and new ways of working together. The division continued to work on its palm footprint by sourcing only RSPO-certified sustainable palm and palm kernel oil. Nearly 96% of the division’s total palm oil exposure could be traced back to the mill level. In addition, Sustainable Certified Coconut Oil (SCNO) is an important pillar of renewable-based ingredients. The Care Chemicals Division continues to source coconut oil certified by the Rainforest Alliance (RA) and offers RA-certified ingredients for personal care customers. For castor oil, the focus in 2023 is again on the Pragati project, which improves farmers’ working conditions, creates awareness of sustainable agriculture and increases yields through more efficient farming practices. The success of the project is evidenced by the fact that by 2023, 74,500 mt of certified castor oil seeds have been produced.

Collaboration with international network Solidaridad in support of small-scale oil palm farmers

In 2023, BASF signed a partnership with Solidaridad to expand sustainable palm oil and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Indonesia and Malaysia. This builds on the successful partnerships between the two parties in West Kalimantan and the Lampung region of Indonesia, and is an expansion of its scope. In the coming year, the program will focus on developing viable and resilient production systems and supporting inclusive market connection systems. Farmers will be supported to prepare for compliance with international standards and certification of agricultural practices. The project aims to train female farmers in both countries to further increase inclusivity in the sector.

Smallholder livelihoods are a key concern on the path to sustainable produced and sourced oils. Approximately seven million smallholder farmers globally depend on oil palms for their livelihoods which are an important source for renewable oils. While their acreages are small compared to industrial plantations, smallholders account for about 33 percent of total global oil production, making them a significant contributor to a sustainable oil industry. Smallholder project partnerships allow BASF to support these farmers while increasing the availability of sustainably produced oil, e.g. by providing ongoing training and technical support to implement and maintain sustainable production practices and by fostering a sustainable production supply chain that is deforestation-free and competitive in the global market, while increasing the social and economic benefits for farmers.

“To build a more sustainable future, you not only need a lot of effort, but one thing above all: teamwork”, said Jutta Stute, Global Sustainability Manager, Care Chemicals, BASF. “Our partnerships, such as the recently renewed collaboration with Solidaridad and clear certification guidelines allow us to support these farmers while increasing the availability of sustainably produced oils.”
“It is very possible to source palm oil that is deforestation-free, and produced in a socially responsible and inclusive way,” said Myrtille Danse, Head of Corporate Engagement & Partnerships at Solidaridad Europe. “By joining forces with partners like BASF we can support smallholder palm oil production that is both environmentally and socially sustainable.”

The Responsibly Active Program demonstrates the progress made in the botanical supply chain

With the Responsibly Active Program, BASF’s Care Chemicals division aims to strengthen its botanical supply chain and create a positive impact along the vaule chain of bioactive ingredients for a more sustainable future. One of the program’s pillars focuses on protecting natural resources by maximizing the use of renewable raw materials and fostering organic-certified supply chains. An update on the progress of these efforts was recently published in the 2023 Responsibly Active Program and is also included in this year's Responsible Sourcing Report. In 2023, the division’s bioactives unit has achieved that 90 percent of its raw materials are bio-based or derived from abudant minerals, while 58 percent of its botanicals come from sustainable sources. Looking ahead, this business is committed to further product innovation with supply chains in line with the Responsibly Active approach.

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