BASF gains gold-level certification in Spain

BASF has achieved gold-level certification according to the European Water Stewardship (EWS) standard for its production site in Tarragona, Spain, making it the first chemical company to do so.

In order to attain this certificate, auditors of third party certification body TÜV Nord Integra assessed the entire water management performance of BASF’s production site, from extraction of water at its source to its reintroduction in downstream water bodies.

By 2020, BASF says it wants to reduce the withdrawal of drinking water from supply sources for production by half compared with 2010. The emissions to water of organic substances and nitrogen are to be reduced by 80%, the emissions of heavy metals by 60%, compared with 2002.

 BASF aims to improve its sustainable water management even further. In regions considered to be “water-stressed,” more than 60% of the naturally available water sources are exploited by humans. In total, 20% of all BASF sites, including Tarragona, are located in water-stressed areas.

Last year, BASF abstracted around 7% of its worldwide water supply from these areas. “By the year 2020, we want to introduce a water management following the EWS standard at all sites where water is scarce,” said Dr. Ulrich von Deessen, head of BASF’s Competence Center Environment, Health and Safety.