At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future.
We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions.
By designing and developing functional, cost-effective, safe, and sustainable products, BASF contributes to societal progress, environmental protection, and its own business success. BASF’s product development ensures that products meet consumer needs and demands, through investment in research and development to create innovative solutions.
At BASF, the development of SSbD principles has been a gradual process that dates to the company’s inception. SSbD requires considering various dimensions, including occupational safety, consumer safety, environmental safety, and overall sustainability, assessed through Life Cycle Analysis-based methods. The need for occupational safety was so evident to BASF that it became a focus shortly after the company’s founding. Since 1908, BASF has been conducting toxicological investigations. Over time, other dimensions were integrated, with the economic aspects of functionality, cost, and product value always being considered.
We strive to achieve the optimum between functionality, safety and sustainability.
BASF is committed to environmental responsibility by creating sustainable products and processes that reduce waste, resource use, and emissions. By focusing on sustainability in managing their product portfolio, BASF protects the environment, mitigates climate change, and conserves natural resources for the future. BASF acts in line with the basic concepts of the Safe and Sustainability by Design (SSbD) framework as published by the European Commission in 2022.
BASF’s expectations in PINK
PINK’s overarching aim is to produce innovative modelling software and integrated workflows for the development of AdMas&Chems, by implementing the SSbD framework as an industry-ready open innovation platform – PINKISH. The integrated computational tools should be cost-effective and with a stepwise approach provide clear guidance for data interpretation. The framework is expected to be adaptable across various disciplines, focusing on functionality, safety, and sustainability. BASF envisions this stepwise approach beginning with simple design principles and qualitative comparisons to facilitate the implementation of SSbD. The goal is for innovators using SSbD processes to achieve faster market access and a higher likelihood of avoiding regrettable substitutions, without being hindered by a lack of harmonization or a common understanding of how to analyze functionality, safety, and sustainability.
BASF’s role in PINK
In PINK, BASF supports the project with its expertise in (eco)toxicological hazard and risk assessment including the use of NAMs (New Approach Methodologies) and IT tools. In combination with the extensive experience in sustainability evaluation, BASF will provide case studies to challenge and improve the developed computational SSbD workflows – PINKISH – as co-lead of WP3 (Integrate) and lead of WP6 (Validate).
