BASF to tackle social issues with Creator Space project

The chemicals multinational BASF, whose products range from plastics to crop treatments, is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a programme to tackle social issues, including energy sourcing, food shortages and housing problems.  

It has embarked on a year-long global tour of six cities for sessions with architects, artists, scientists, government representatives, technology experts and sustainability specialists.

The programme began last month in Mumbai, where participants concentrated on water scarcity. Access to clean water is a pressing issue in the rapidly growing Indian city.

Local people joined meetings gathering and exchanging ideas on managing organic waste and saving water through composting, and employees discussed responsible water use.

An innovation workshop involving customers and other stakeholders from industry and public bodies looked into industrial waste water management, and young and more experienced scientists from academia and industry explored research and development.

In addition, BASF and the international NGO Save the Children combined to combat water problems.
BASF asked participants in Mumbai: “Is it possible to improve access to safe affordable water through changes in technology, policy and behaviour?”

The other cities on the itinerary are Shanghai, New York, São Paulo, Barcelona and Ludwigshafen in Germany, where BASF has its hq.

BASF, which has more than 112,000 employees and recorded €74bn ($85bn, £56bn) sales in 2013, calls its project Creator Space and says the company’s corporate purpose is to “create chemistry for a sustainable future”.

Other elements in the project are a global online forum, and science symposiums in Chicago, dealing with food, Shanghai, covering urban living, and Ludwigshafen, discussing energy.