Plastics setthe pace

Easy on resources,

innovative,indispensable

Whether as materials for everyday objects,

insulation or packaging, life without plastics

is now unimaginable. This is the result of

more than five decades of close coopera-

tion between plastics manufacturers and

processors.

Since laying the foundations for the plas-

tics era with the first industrial production

of polystyrene and nylon, BASF has been

active in shaping the industry.

Plastics – influencing everyday life

No material that is used in comparable

amounts comes anywhere near to match-

ing the growth rates for plastics. In all

regions of the world, demand for plastics

is rising faster than the respective gross

domestic product. This is because plastics

are the material of choice when it comes

to satisfying the requirements of everyday

life in industrialized countries and making

the way we live as pleasant as possible.

Plastics are always the number one

choice – for the packaging and transport

of food, house construction and insulation,

household applications, transport or

leisure activities.

Plastics – eco-efficient, functional and

beautiful

Plastics help to save resources: Over the

life of a product, plastics used in vehicles,

electrical appliances or buildings save far

more oil and gas than were needed to

produce them in the first place.

Plastics are easy to process. Even compli-

cated integrated components can be

manufactured in only a few steps. At the

same time, plastics offer an enormous

variety of unique properties.

Plastics are suitable for mechanical, feed-

stock or thermal recovery. When the entire

product lifecycle is taken into account,

plastics are best – both economically and

environmentally. Plastics bring together

functionality and beauty to provide ideal

solutions.

Plastics – innovations that will shape

the future

Whether as integrated components in

vehicles or electrical appliances, in ship-

building or construction, or as high-

performance packaging – plastics are

always the most innovative materials.

Together with its customers, BASF is sys-

tematically developing the properties of

plastics to open up new applications. This

brochure offers you an insight into these

developments. Join us in taking a closer

look at the world of possibilities offered by

BASF and its plastics portfolio. Joint

development efforts with intelligent solu-

tions – both economically attractive and

sustainable – this is how we will shape the

21st century together.

Dr. John Feldmann

Member of the Board

of Executive Directors of

BASF Aktiengesellschaft

Plastics –young and successful

2

Plastics–young and successful ....................................................................S.2

Versatile materials with a future ...................................................................S.4

Lighter, more economical, cleaner ...............................................................S.6

Saving energy–conserving resources ..........................................................S.8

Keeping in touch worldwide .......................................................................S.10

Getting closer to nature ..............................................................................S.12

Thin layers keep things fresh .....................................................................S.14

The end is just the beginning .....................................................................S.16

Plastics–opportunities for the future ........................................................S.18

3

Versatile mPlastics, plasts and elasts –different names for the samething: experts call them“polymers.”

Plastics are everywhere, hardly a single

aspect of our daily life is now conceivable

without them. There are many different

kinds, and they have a broad spectrum of

properties. Some are soft, others hard,

some are tough, while others are fragile;

there are foamed and smooth, transparent

and opaque plastics. But all plastics have

one thing in common: they consist of long

chains made up of individual basic units,

the monomers. Nature successfully utilizes

this construction principle in countless

ways. Sugars, starches or plant fibers like

cellulose are some examples. The struc-

tural units for plastics are produced mainly

from oil and gas. Varying the chain length,

incorporating branches or combining

different basic units produces materials

capable of performing a multiplicity of

functions and which can also be

processed easily and efficiently.

The highly efficient structural principle

underlying polymer chemistry has revolu-

tionized the world of engineering materials

within a few decades.

Observers now speak of the age of plas-

tics, since these materials now have an

established place in almost every area of

our civilization. Plastic is a highly beneficial

material, especially under ecological

aspects. Compared to other materials, it

requires little energy for production and

processing. Its main strengths, however,

are its applications, as we shall see on the

following pages. Plastics already con-

tribute decisively to conserving resources

and relieving environmental burdens. And

there is no doubt that they will continue to

grow in importance as we tackle the

challenges that lie ahead.

BASF has achieved many major break-

throughs in the plastics sector, such as

the first industrial-scale manufacture of

polystyrene in 1930 and nylon in 1940.

This was followed ten years later by the

invention of Styropor®. Research into

many new basic polymer units at the

beginning of the plastics era has resulted

in improved combinations of properties,

especially by modifying known polymers,

and has yielded creative ideas for process-

ing technologies. Two examples are the

invention of Neopor®, which surpasses

even the classical Styropor® in its energy

conserving properties, or the Sandwich

Plate System by which polyurethanes can

be used as construction material in the

shipbuilding industry. But research activi-

ties also include the search for increasingly

efficient production processes in which

valuable raw materials can be turned into

high-performance plastics while conser-

13

6

Figures in %Source: Mineralölwirtschaftsverband 5/99

Heating

49,5

3

5

29,5

Other energyconsumption

6

13

Oil consumption in Germany

Transportation

Bitumen, coke,lubricants,residues

Chemicals

Plasticmaterials

Plastics

4

Only 6 percent of petroleum in Germany is

used to produce plastic materials. The energy

saved thanks to the use of plastics far

exceeds this amount.

materials

ving resources, and the evaluation of new

ways of recycling waste plastics. BASF, as

one of the world’s largest plastics produc-

ers, is thereby contributing significantly to

Sustainable Development and helping

safeguard our future.

Plastics are only a few decades old, yet within this short

time they have already become firmly established in every

area of life. Polymer chemistry is still so young, however,

that it has an enormous potential to contribute toward

Sustainable Development.

with a future

5

The basis for developing plastics in terms

of Sustainable Development and

Responsible Care®. Experience and

know-how throughout the entire process chain from production,

through computer-aided design to component testing:

• Computer-aided design of an Ultramid® wing mirror

mounting

• Production of polystyrene

• Testing a plastic fuel tank made from Lupolen®

Mob

more

High fuel consumption is no longer an

unavoidable feature of automobiles: About

one half of fuel consumption depends on

the weight of the vehicle. Plastics reduce

this weight and so help conserve energy.

BASF offers a whole range of products

designed to make our cars lighter, longer-

lasting and thus more eco-compatible,

and in a highly economical manner.

BASF is also working together with part-

ners in the automotive industry to create

new applications. In developing the inlet

manifold, plastic fuel tank, accelerator

pedal, radiator grille, all-plastic bumper,

front-end and dashboard it has made pio-

neering achievements. Designs completely

impossible without plastics have emerged.

The plastic fuel tank with its flexible geom-

etry, for example, allows the skillful utiliza-

tion of dead spaces inside the bodywork.

Based on its total lifecycle, its production

requires one-quarter less than the energy

needed for a steel tank. Another advan-

tage: Plastic doesn’t rust. The external

parts therefore need no surface coating.

Plastics have also given the impetus to

develop completely new automotive tech-

nologies. The “new electric car” (NECAR)

will have emission levels well below those

of existing petrol and diesel engines.

Plastic also improves safety – the airbag,

itself made of plastic fibers, is enclosed in

a plastic housing, while the steering wheel

and dashboard displays are surrounded

by foamed plastic, the mechanical com-

ponents of safety belts or interior: all of

them can be made from BASF plastics.

Eight times as much petroleum is now consumed in road traffic

than in the production of plastics. Lighter vehicles can signifi-

cantly reduce fuel consumption, thus conserving resources.

BASF plastics are making this possible: their uses range from

bodywork through internal fittings to engine parts. Cars with a

fuel consumption of 3 liters per 100 kilometers can be realized

only by using plastics.

Lighter,

6

Source: DaimlerChrysler AG

Source: ALSTOM LHB GmbH

ility

e economical,

Not only automobiles benefit from the new

materials. In shipbuilding, a steel-

polyurethane-steel sandwich (Sandwich

Plate System) is replacing conventional

steel components as structural elements.

It offers greater strength, better vibration

absorbance and reduced weight, all for

lower overall costs. Plastics also improve

economy and performance in rail and air

traffic.

cleaner

Product development under the aspects of materialstrength and weight reduction with the goals ofeconomizing resources and reducing emissions:

• Train with a Firestop®3 front end with Palatal®

• Ultramid® inlet manifold

• Rear panel made from Luran® S

Every modern car already contains 100 to 150 kilograms of plastics

that make driving safer and more comfortable. Using plastics instead

of other materials also reduces weight and consequently

the fuel consumption. As a result, some 470 million

liters of fuel are saved and 1.7 billion kilograms of

CO2 emissions prevented in

Germany every year.

7

BASF offers a complete range of different

insulating materials. Styropor® for the

manufacture of rigid polystyrene foam is

an invention of BASF and is now almost a

synonym for insulating board. The efficiency

of Styropor® is enormous: In a single family

home insulated with Styropor® board,

1,900 liters of heating oil can be saved

annually. This conserves resources and

lowers the output of the greenhouse gas

CO2 into the atmosphere. By comparison,

700 liters of oil are needed once to pro-

duce this insulating board.

What was recently regarded as unbeat-

able, has now been surpassed: The silver-

gray Neopor®, an advanced form of

Styropor®, provides the same insulating

effect with almost half the amount of raw

materials. As a result, costs and resources

are saved and the eco-burden further

reduced. Although the thickness of the

layer is reduced by 15-20 percent, the

material provides the same insulating per-

formance and so it can be used when

The infrared picture shows the newly renovated “three-literhouse”. The insulated wall releases hardly any energy to theenvironment.

Building and living without plastics is now hardly

imaginable. From the basement to the roof they

bring color into the home, create attractive

surfaces, offer protection against noise and cold,

but also against unwanted heat. In this way they

help conserve energy and reduce the burden on

the environment, since about one-third of the

total petroleum consumption in Germany still

goes on domestic heating. Perhaps the homes of

the future will no longer need conventional heat-

ing, thanks to plastic insulating materials that

already exist today.

8

Saving energy–Construct

there is limited space, for example in

modernizing old buildings.

The green-colored, extruded Styrodur®

belongs to the same family of insulating

materials. This material is very compression-

resistant, absorbs practically no water and

is thus particularly suitable as heat insula-

tion for floors, flat roofs, basement walls,

refrigerated and store rooms, and even in

road and rail construction.

In many years of research activity BASF

has succeeded in replacing the halogenat-

ed hydrocarbons (CFCs and HCFCs) origi-

nally used for foaming with the naturally

occurring blowing agent carbon dioxide.

BASF is thus well prepared for the EU-

wide ban on HCFCs that is due to come

into force in January 2002; neither does

the company use HFCs as blowing

agents. For heat insulation of refrigerators

or district heating pipes, for example,

BASF offers another solution:

polyurethanes. These materials are very

effective insulators even without CFCs or

HCFCs. These plastics tailored within the

BASF group can also carry out supporting

functions because of their mechanical

properties. Heat bridges are avoided by

suitable design features. Living comfort

can also be enhanced by the use of latent

heat stores in plastic microcapsules that

can be incorporated in the plaster of build-

ings. As temperatures rise, the waxy con-

tents of the capsules melt, thereby storing

the heat. Durable construction materials

requiring little maintenance also help con-

serve resources. For example, windows

with frames made of Vinidur®3 rank favor-

ably in ecological terms because of their

long life.

Even so, every house is demolished even-

tually. After doing their job for years, many

building materials – for example window

profiles, piping, roof membranes and PVC

flooring – are now being recycled, making

another contribution to conserving re-

sources. The use of insulating materials

made from BASF plastics economizes on

fossil energy sources; CO2 emissions are

drastically reduced, making a major contri-

bution to reducing the emission of green-

house gases.

Low-energy houses – whether old or new – are no problem with insulating

foams made from plastic. The “three-liter house” – an older building

modernized using innovative BASF products – requires three liters of

heating oil per square meter and year, equivalent to only 12

percent of the original heating energy. As a result,

CO2 emissions are reduced by more than 80 percent.

resources

Long life and protection against loss of heat and cold conserve our resources.

BASF products are making it possible:

• Neopor® also insulates where space is restricted: e.g. when modernizing old buildings

• Styrodur® C for external insulation at ground level and in areas exposed to compression

• Long-life and low maintenance windows with Vinidur®3

frames

conserving

9

–tion

worldwide

The worldwide networking of communica-

tions media has become a matter of

course within a few years. Business enter-

prises now rely completely on global con-

tacts, information circles the globe in sec-

onds, and private users benefit greatly

from the new technology in their daily

lives. Without plastics all this would not be

possible. They are an indispensable part of

communications technology. Video confer-

ences eliminate unnecessary travel and

help conserve energy. In telephones and

computers, key components of all types of

modern equipment are made from BASF

plastics. Outwardly, these are visible as

displays, housings and keyboards, while

on the inside plastics act as support mate-

rials and securing elements to ensure that

everything stays in the right place.

Similarly, plastics provide good electrical

insulation. Roof-mounted satellite dishes

are also made of plastic. After all, despite

sun, rain and snow they should continue

functioning for years, without rusting, and

above all reliably and fault-free – the BASF

plastic Luran® S makes all this possible.

Modern information technology is making mu

munications possible around the globe – and

basic requirement for the successful function

of the world economy. Plastics are an integra

part of this technology, in computers,

telephones or as satellite dishes.

The technologies of the future are only made

possible by the properties of plastics: their high

mechanical strength, efficient processing tech-

niques and good insulating properties.

Keeping in

10

Many parts of electrical and electronic

devices require flame retardant properties

for safety reasons. BASF offers ecofriendly

solutions that take safety aspects and

environmental protection equally into

account. These products include plastics

with halogen-free flame protection sys-

tems. In the 21st century, plastics are pro-

viding the basis for revolutionary communi-

cation and information technologies. The

data highway depends on ultra-high per-

formance fiber optic cables. Polymeric

materials as glass fiber cladding are

already doing valuable service and one

day will probably replace glass fiber com-

pletely. Even VDUs cannot manage with-

out plastics. The optical sharpness of flat

panel displays is now improved by a poly-

mer coating. In the future, plastic films will

make TV tubes superfluous.

ultimedia com-

d this is now a

ning

al

touch

For fast and reliable communication:

• Monitor housing of polystyrene

• Robust mobile phones made from Luran® S

• Glass fiber cable cladding made from high molecular weight Ultradur®

• Weatherproof Palapreg®4 satellite dish and protective housing of Luran® S

11

Communication

Games, sport and fun – an

increasing number of people

in our highly technological

world use their leisure time to

get closer to nature. Hiking,

traveling and a whole range of

sporting activities are steadily

gaining popularity. Clothing

and equipment made from

BASF plastics are creating

new leisure-time possibilities

and help top athletes to

achieve peak competitive per-

formance.

Getting

LeisurePlastics make goals achievable – whether on sand,asphalt, water or snow:

• Elastopan®2 shoe soles offer guaranteed high wearer comfort

• Kickboard with wheels made from abrasion-resistant PolyTHF®

• Luran® S surfboard

• Snowboard with surface coating of Terlux®

12

closerto

nature

Sailing, surfing, skiing, jogging, hiking,

cycling – many leisure activities take place

outdoors. BASF plastics help people make

the most of their leisure time. Physical fit-

ness and health reap the benefits.

Ultralight sailboats, brightly colored surf-

boards, high-strength skis, balls, tennis

and golf clubs as well as sports shoes for

all needs are now made from high tech

materials. A sailboat with a hull made from

the BASF product Luran® S, for example,

will weather the heaviest storms. It is also

resistant to UV radiation, low on mainte-

nance and long-lasting.

Plastic is also the material of first choice

for skis and makes them very sturdy.

An essential requirement for all sporting

activity is good shoes. Polyurethanes, for

which the BASF subsidiary Elastogran

supplies the basic products, have gained

general acceptance in other areas as well.

They are also used to make the shells of

ski boots and the soles of football, running

or golf shoes. They are distinguished by a

combination of particularly favorable prop-

erties: they are light, highly flexible, insu-

late wearers effectively against cold,

absorb shock, are durable and resistant.

People who prefer relaxing in their own

garden also use products made from plas-

tics, for example “rubber boots” made of

Vinflex®3, gardening implements of

Terluran® or garden furniture of Luran® S or

Novolen®2. Tests in an adjustable climate

chamber and outdoor exposure tests

prove that these plastics are weatherproof

and resistant to ultraviolet radiation.

From the surfboard through suitable footwear to the safety

helmet – BASF plastics make our leisure time safer and

more attractive. And these developments are

constantly progressing.

13

Thin layerskeep things

Plastics account for 17 percent by weight

of all packaging materials. This might not

sound like a lot, but more than one-half of

all commodities are packaged in plastics.

Plastics are real all-rounders in the pack-

aging field. For example, a plastic bag

weighs less than ten grams, but can be

used to carry up to ten kilograms! A poly-

styrene pot for 150 grams of yogurt

weighs 5.5 grams, whereas a

glass jar for the same amount

weighs 85 grams.

Combining low weight with

high performance is the great

strength of plastic packaging.

In this way they relieve the eco-

burden in a variety of ways:

This is where nature can’t compete: only seven grams of plastic are

needed to package 1,000 grams of milk. A nutshell, on the other

hand, weights almost as much as its contents, a banana skin about

60 percent and the skin of an orange about 30 percent.

About one-half of the food produced in the developing countries

becomes spoiled, while in Europe only one to two percent suf-

fers this fate. Modern packaging keeps food hygienic and fresh,

protects goods against damage and provides consumers with

the necessary information. Plastics are particularly eco-efficient

in this application.

14

PackagingFilms are particularly effective as packag-

ing materials. Although they are usually

only a few hundredths of a millimeter thick,

they protect foods from oxygen, keep

moisture out and stop flavors and fra-

grances ingredients escaping. Especially

composite films consisting of several ultra-

thin layers (e.g. Lupolen®2 and Ultramid®)

optimally combine these properties. Like

all plastics, they can be recovered easily at

the end of their useful life. But the possible

uses of plastics are not yet exhausted:

Styroflex® newly developed by BASF, for

example, offers the same packaging per-

formance for even less material and further

contributes to waste prevention and eco-

efficiency. The biodegradable Ecoflex®

extends the range of products for special

applications.

391

208220

258

100 100 100 100

Packagingweight

Productionenergy

Manufacturingcosts

Wastevolume

Alternative packagingPlastic packaging

Consequences of packaging without plasticIn percent

fresh

their manufacture consumes much less

energy than conventional materials, and

the volume of waste material is much

lower. And lighter packaging also saves

fuel during transport.

No wonder plastic packagings also look

good in ecobalance calculations. As long

ago as 1985 a study commissioned by the

German Federal Environmental Agency

showed that the manufacture of a plastic

carrier bag places a smaller burden on the

environment than the manufacture of a

paper carrier bag. Similar results have also

been produced by studies on yogurt pots,

polyethylene sleeves as packaging for milk

or polyethylene bags for fruit.

The thinner, the easier on resources:

• Film blowing plant in BASF Technical Service department

• The new Styroflex® also withstands extreme stresses

15

Source: Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung mbH, Wiesbaden

RecThere are three approaches to the recov-

ery of plastics: mechanical recycling, feed-

stock recycling and thermal recovery.

Which of these approaches is used

depends on the type of waste plastic.

Eco-efficiency studies help decide which

to use.

Mechanical recycling

If large amounts of homogeneous, uncon-

taminated scrap material are obtained, for

example in production and processing

plants, in the transport sector and to a

limited extent in dismantling plants, the

plastic can be remelted to produce new

molded components. With more complex

products, the effort required for disman-

tling, sorting, cleaning and processing

limits the benefits of mechanical recycling.

Feedstock recycling

Mixed plastic wastes are preferably

reduced by chemical means to their origi-

nal components which can then be re-

used as raw materials. Advantages: mix-

tures of different and even contaminated

Sixty percent of all materials made from plastics have a life of

more than eight years. But one-quarter have already reached

the end of their lifetime after only one year. Recovery of waste

plastics is a major topic at BASF, where ecological, economic

and technical aspects are taken into account equally. Germany

leads the world in the recovery of plastics, with more than 56

percent of all waste plastics now being recovered.

The end is just

Recovery as practiced by nature: Autumn leaves decom-

pose and serve as humus in the spring. Used plastics are

also a valuable source of raw materials.

16

coveryplastics can also be processed. The

resulting raw materials can also be used to

manufacture first-class new material while

conserving crude petroleum.

Thermal recovery

(incineration with recovery of energy)

All the plastic residues not suitable either

for mechanical or feedstock recycling can

be used to recover energy because all

plastics have a high calorific value. Clean

in-cineration with energy recovery in suit-

able plants reduces the burden on the

environment and conserves fossil fuels. By

comparison, 82 percent of mineral oil in

Germany is burned directly through trans-

port, heating or other activities.

As a major plastics manufacturer, BASF

has done pioneering work in plastics

recycling by developing new processes

and constructing its own technical facilities.

For example, it has devised numerous

methods and applications for the recovery

of used products.

Together with its customers, BASF has

developed products with recycled content

for the most important types of plastics.

BASF played a prominent role in establish-

ing feedstock recycling of used packaging

by demonstrating that the method is feasi-

ble on an industrial scale. Today, not only

the techniques but also the ideas behind

the recovery of plastics are important.

Studies have shown that it is possible to

save costs by combining waste flows from

various sources as part of a “waste flow

management plan”. At the same time, this

also increases the amount of plastic

t the beginningrecovered. BASF has initiated such a

waste management plan which actively

involves plastics manufacturers and other

customer industries. Eco-efficiency analy-

ses, which take into account both environ-

mental and economic aspects, can identi-

fy the best recovery strategy for each indi-

vidual waste flow. BASF’s experience has

shown that different recovery methods

make sense depending on the properties

of the waste material. But resources are

conserved no matter which method –

mechanical, feedstock recycling or thermal

recovery – is selected.

Monomersynthesis

gasenergy

Mechanicalrecycling

Feedstockrecycling

Thermalrecovery

Consumerproducts

Raw materialsfrom oil /

natural gas

82%

Recovery of plastics

17

• Granules from telephone housings used in the production of plastics containing recycled material

• Engine cover of mechanically recycled nylon

The facts prove the ecological qualities of plastics.

Nevertheless, critical questions remain. We are always

pleased to participate in an exchange of views.

In many areas of life, plastics are already

playing a major role in reducing the eco-

burden, conserving resources and pre-

venting climate change. This trend will

become even more pronounced in future.

In the transport sector, plastics allow the

construction of lighter vehicles, with result-

ing fuel savings. A car that can cover 100

kilometers on only three liters of fuel will

thus be possible within the foreseeable

future. In the building industry, extremely

effective insulating materials made from

plastic help reduce heat loss in houses

and substantially reduce oil and gas con-

sumption. Low energy houses will soon be

the rule. They will not only economize on

raw materials, but also reduce the output

of carbon dioxide that contributes to the

greenhouse effect. Not only durable plastic

articles conserve resources. In the field of

packaging in particular, the use of other

materials often consumes more energy

and has a greater impact on the environ-

ment. As their performance increases,

plastics will be used even more widely and

meet the desired packaging requirements

for an even lower input of resources.

Plastics can be expected to be successful

in all applications in which they are more

eco-efficient than other materials or open

up completely new possibilities. They thus

point the way toward Sustainable

Development. The limits of their perfor-

mance are far from being reached. New

ideas that transcend the boundaries of

conventional thinking are now required.

BASF is making its contribution by devel-

oping increasingly effective plastics that

can be produced with less energy and

that satisfy the high demands of cus-

tomers and consumers as well as reduc-

ing the burden on the environment. This is

one of the messages in BASF’s Vision

2010.

Excerpts from BASF’s Vision 2010:

• With our products and services we

are among the most competent global

suppliers:

We are developing innovative problem

solutions satisfying a wide range of

requirements, as well as changing

demand structures and social needs.

• Our organization welcomes change

as an opportunity:

BASF is committed to the principle of

Sustainable Development.

We are doing our part to satisfy the

demands of a continuously growing

world population. We also pay heed to

worldwide environmental considera-

tions while conserving existing and

accessing new resources.

Knowledge generated by science and

research is creating the foundation for

developing processes and products

that save energy, are easier on the

environment and nevertheless offer

economic advantages.

The plastics industry manufactures products that combine high efficiency with low

energy demand and a broad spectrum of properties profile. It will therefore contribute

significantly to future ecological developments in industrialized societies.

Plastics –

18

oppf

The human race will only be able to survive in the long term if it

can develop sustainable forms of living and economic activity.

The economical deployment of resources is one of the most

important goals. Plastics will play an indispensable part in these

endeavors.

Contact us by post, telephone or e-mail:

BASF Aktiengesellschaft

Sustainable Development/

Communication Plastics KS/K

67056 Ludwigshafen

Germany

Tel. +49 621 60-40115

E-mail: dialog.kunststoffe@basf-ag.de

Often there are no quick and easy

answers to questions concerning environ-

mental compatibility. But it’s worth

addressing them in detail. We cordially

invite you to enter into a dialog with us.

Write to us or give us a call. We would be

happy to provide you with information, but

we are also interested in your ideas,

wishes or criticisms.

Or perhaps you are interested in visiting

one of our sites to find out more about our

state-of-the-art operations?

Legends:

® registered trademark of BASF Aktiengesellschaft

®1 registered trademark of Elastogran GmbH

®2 registered trademark of Basell GmbH, a joint ventureof BASF and Shell

®3 registered trademark of Büfa GmbH

®4 registered brand of Solvin GmbH, a joint venture of BASF and Solvay

®5 registered brand of DSM-BASF Structural Resins V.O.F.

19

Dialog

portunitiesfor the future

BASF Aktiengesellschaft67056 Ludwigshafen

Germany

KS

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