Responsible sourcing:
We care about sustainable supply chains

At Care Chemicals, we believe that economic success must go hand in hand with environmental protection and social responsibility. We aim to be the preferred chemical company enabling our customers’ green transformation, and responsible sourcing is a central element of this ambition. It allows us and our customers to reduce environmental and social risks along the supply chain and, together, create meaningful and lasting impact.

Our Code of Conduct lays out the framework to which all employees worldwide must adhere in order to comply with applicable laws and internal requirements, as well as ethical business practices. Our commitment to human rights is also anchored in the BASF Policy Statement on Human Rights, which is aligned with internationally recognized frameworks such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and International Labour Organization standards. Oversight of human rights risks is ensured at a senior level: the Chief Human Rights Officer, who heads the Legal and Compliance organization, regularly reports to the Board of Executive Directors and the Audit Committee.

Through the Responsible Care^® initiative, we pursue continuous improvement in health, safety, environmental protection, and product stewardship at our sites.

Responsibility does not stop at our own operations. We have set out our expectations of suppliers in the global Supplier Code of Conduct, which is based, among other things, on the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the Responsible Care^® initiative. Topics covered by the Supplier Code of Conduct include compliance with human rights; the exclusion of child and forced labor, as well as human trafficking; safeguarding labor and social standards; and antidiscrimination and anticorruption guidelines.

BASF is a founding member of the initiative Together for Sustainability (TfS). TfS supports its member companies in systematically integrating sustainability into their procurement and supply chain processes. Through common standards, shared evaluations, and targeted improvement measures, we lay the foundations for responsible business conduct.

To identify, assess, and mitigate risks in supply chains, BASF has established a comprehensive supplier due diligence process. This includes a risk-based analysis, sustainability assessments, audits, and follow-up measures. BASF works closely with suppliers to drive continuous improvement and strengthen sustainability performance throughout the value chain.

One of the grievance mechanisms is the BASF Compliance Hotline which is not only open to all BASF employees, but also to external stakeholders, especially workers in our value chains. Each concern is documented, properly investigated and answered as quickly as possible. The outcome of the investigation as well as any measures taken are documented accordingly and included in internal reports. We consider the number of cases reported through our reporting channels and the resulting follow-up measures, to be key indicators of the effectiveness of our compliance management system and adherence to our Code of Conduct.

Building on this established governance and due diligence framework, BASF has defined specific commitments and offers sustainable sourcing certification options for selected key renewable raw materials. These initiatives complement our approach and support responsible cultivation and collection practices, including support for smallholders. These measures are designed to strengthen supply chain transparency and help manage social and environmental risks at the very beginning of our supply chains, enabling our customers to benefit from more reliable and responsibly sourced materials.

Responsible sourcing examples: 

Sustainable palm oil

Palm oil and palm kernel oil, along with their derivatives, are key renewable raw materials used primarily in home and personal care ingredients. However, oil palm cultivation can contribute to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change, particularly through peatland drainage.

As a leading processor in the industry, we are committed to responsible sourcing and transparent progress toward sustainable palm products. BASF joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in 2004 and has since been actively engaged in driving sustainable solutions.

We work closely with suppliers across the entire value chain - from smallholders to end consumers - to address environmental impacts and ensure that our products are based on sustainably sourced palm materials.

Further details and latest figures are available here: Sustainable palm oil

Sustainable coconut oil

Coconut oil is a vital feedstock for the chemical industry. BASF sources coconut oil to manufacture ingredients for products like cosmetic products, detergents and cleaning agents. 

BASF is one of the first chemical companies to offer sustainable ingredients  for personal care products by sourcing Rainforest Alliance Certified coconut oil. After successfully certifying our production site in Cassina Rizzardi, Italy, we have now certified another site in Zona Franca, Spain. Sourcing Rainforest Alliance Certified raw materials is a key step towards our sustainability journey for renewable-based products. The company is certified according to the Rainforest Alliance Mass Balance Coconut certification scheme. 

Mass balance (MB) is a supply chain model that promotes the physical flow of certified raw materials within the supply chain. Farmers benefit by selling Rainforest Alliance Certified coconuts and copra.

Consumers are increasingly aware of environmental issues associated with coconut farming, and favor products based on sustainably sourced feedstocks. 

Further details and latest figures are available here: Sustainable coconut oil

Sustainable castor oil

Castor oil is a biobased feedstock used across a variety of industries. BASF and its partners have driven social, environmental, health, and safety improvements in castor cultivation in India through Project Pragati. These efforts laid the foundation for SuCCESS (Sustainable Castor Caring for Environment & Social Standards), the first independently auditable standard for sustainable castor cultivation. Further details and the latest figures are available here.

Further details and latest figures are available here: Sustainable castor oil 

Responsibly Active – Bioactives for a Positive Future

With its “Responsibly Active” program, BASF aligns its actions toward more sustainable practices across the entire bioactives value chain.

Building on the principle that plants are at the core of its business and biodiversity is a key source of innovation, BASF focuses on three pillars: protecting natural resources, empowering and respecting people, and reducing climate impact and operational footprint.

In this way, BASF actively contributes to preserving the beauty of nature for generations to come.

Further details and latest figures are available here: Responsibly Active