FLORHAM PARK, NJ, December 18, 2008 – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized BASF’s Care Chemicals and Formulators business unit as a Champion in the Design for the Environment Program’s (DfE) Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) at an awards ceremony in Washington, DC.  The EPA’s DfE recognizes environmental leaders who voluntarily commit to the use of safer surfactants, or those that break down quickly to non-polluting compounds and help protect aquatic life in both fresh and salt water.

Champion is the highest level of recognition offered under the SDSI.  In addition to the awards ceremony, BASF is listed on the EPA SDSI website as a Champion and may use a special logo in its literature to explain its participation in the program.

The DfE identified safer alternative surfactants through partnerships with industry and environmental advocates.  BASF offers several products that present sustainable solutions to the Industrial and Institutional (I&I) cleaning industry.  In 2008, the Inoterra™ Surfactant Systems were launched as an alternative to Nonyl Phenol Ethoxylates (NPE’s) in North America.  This new readily biodegradable surface active line of products can be used in all cleaning formulations.  

BASF offers a range of surfactants that are listed on CleanGredients®, an online database of I&I cleaning ingredient chemicals that provide verified information about the environmental and human health attributes of additives that meet the EPA’s DfE screen. CleanGredients® is located at www.CleanGredients.org.

“BASF is the only chemical company to receive the Champion award from the EPA and we will continue to strive toward using safer surfactants that protect the environment,” said Scott Thomson, Director, Business Management, Detergents and Formulators, at BASF.  “BASF embraces sustainable development as a core strategic guideline that balances economic growth, environmental protection and social responsibility.”

BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.®

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 15,000 employees in North America, and had sales of approximately $16.4 billion in 2007. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas to chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals. As a reliable partner, BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has more than 95,000 employees and posted sales of almost €58 billion in 2007. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.