Coatings
Climate Protection
We enable emission reductions by matching industry needs with CO2-reduced and reducing technologies.
As your partner of choice for sustainability, we are committed to ambitiously driving CO2 reduction enabled by our raw materials and in our own production. We support our customers in achieving their climate protection targets by delivering a portfolio of carbon-reduced and -reducing solutions.
Empowering change along our entire value chain
Climate change is a major challenge and top priority for current and future generations. The urgent need for action has created a fundamental change in energy and material use – leading to a disruptive transformation of industries in all regions.
To significantly reduce our carbon footprint, we take actions along the entire value chain:
- We collaborate with our suppliers to reduce the carbon emission of the raw materials we use. For example, we have increased the use of renewable feedstock to save CO2 emissions.
- We follow efficiency and transformation measures at all our sites. We are optimizing our resource utilization and energy consumption while transitioning to renewable energy sources and innovative technologies.
- With our products and processes, we offer solutions which help our customers reduce their CO2 footprint. For example, BASF Coatings' Integrated Process for automotive OEM coatings can enable reductions of up to 20% in CO2 emissions.
In this section, we highlight just a few examples of our initiatives that exemplify our dedication to these principles. The examples highlighted here typically leverage more than one of our three strategic levers and serve as illustrations of our efforts; many could also be featured in other sections of our focus areas.
BASF’s biomass balance (BMB) approach plays a crucial role in enhancing the use of renewable raw materials within BASF's integrated production system. Currently, over 250 products from the BASF Coatings portfolio and eight production sites are certified to leverage the benefits of the BMB approach.
Sustainability benefit
Enables reduction of CO2 emissions and saving of fossil resources. Can be applied to the majority of BASF's product portfolio and actively drives the use of renewable resources.
*Savings in CO2 enabled at customers via use of BMB solutions
5 million kg CO2 savings in 2023*
Glasurit®’s Eco Balance product range provides a new clearcoat that meets the highest standards of modern bodyshops and is manufactured using BASF’s advanced Ccycled® technology. This innovative clearcoat utilizes raw materials sourced from recycled waste tires to replace fossil feedstocks, while simultaneously offering technical advantages such as reduced energy consumption and enhanced throughput.
Sustainability benefit
Enabling bodyshops to cut drying time in half (ready in 20 minutes at 40 ºC and 10 minutes at 60 ºC), delivering energy and cost advantages. Contributes to a circular economy with up to 40 % less CO2 per kg of product.
* Carbon footprint data is based on assumptions and approximations valid at the time of data collection. For more information, please visit: ecobalance.glasurit.com
Up to 40% CO2 reduction per kg of product*
BASF Coatings continuously works to optimize coating processes. One example is the Integrated Process II. With this technology, a waterborne basecoat system consisting of two individual components additionally assumes all functions of the primer. This allows a complete coating step to be eliminated, including the baking process, without negatively impacting the final color or the properties of the coating.
Sustainability benefit
The Integrated Process saves time, material and energy costs and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 20 percent.
Reduces CO2 emissions by up to 20%
Through its GLASS* tool, BASF’s Coatings division offers an analysis approach that enables transparency and supports customers in identification of environmental impacts such as CO2 emissions and associated costs. It is an cradle-to-grave approach, covering the entire value chain from raw material extraction via pre-treatment to clearcoat as the final step of the coating process.
Sustainability benefit
Exceptional level of detail enabled. Customers can derive optimizations of costs, performance and ecological footprint.
*GLASS (Global Life Cycle Assessment of Automotive Surface Solutions)
** Paintshop responsible for more than 60% of used energy in vehicle production at automotive factory
Tackling 60% of energy used in vehicle production**
BASF Coatings division operates 34 production sites globally. We are committed to stringent management of our carbon footprint through a comprehensive carbon management program across all sites.
By 2025, we have ensured that approximately 70% of our electricity needs at global production sites are met with green electricity, leveraging one or more measures, including solar panel installations, green electricity contracts, and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) at multiple locations.
Sustainability benefit
The initiatives not only enhance the sustainability of BASF Coatings' operations but also support customers in minimizing their overall environmental impact.
*2018 vs. 2025, Scope 2el
Reduction of about -80% in Scope 2el emissions since 2018*
BASF Shanghai operates its Minhang and Caojing sites, along with the resin plant in Caojing, using 100% renewable energy for OEM Coatings. This positions BASF Coatings as an industry leader in China, powering OEM Coatings operations with renewable energy.
Sustainability benefit
The transition to 100% renewable energy at BASF Shanghai is estimated to reduce approximately 19,000 tons of carbon emissions. This reduction is achieved through a combination of Renewable Direct Power Purchase (R-DPP), the purchase of International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC), and other sustainability measures.
19,000t CO2 savings
BASF Coatings is initiating efforts to enhance transparency and understanding of emissions in the transportation sector. This initiative focuses on reducing Scope 3 emissions through strategies such as regionalizing and localizing supply chains, production, and customer delivery. Additionally, it involves switching transport modes, improving vehicle utilization, consolidating shipments, and employing larger or lighter trucks to optimize efficiency and minimize environmental impact.
Sustainability benefit
Continuous reduction of Scope 3 emissions with the clear target of a reduction of 40% globally by 2030.
1st pilot study in Germany on longhaul eTruck usage
BASF and Lufthansa Technik have succeeded in developing and launching a functional film called NovaFlex SharkSkin that optimizes aerodynamics at flow-relevant parts of the aircraft. The surface structure, which consists of riblets around 50 micrometers in size, imitates the properties of a shark’s skin. The rollout started in 2022. Bodies of B777 aircrafts from 7 different airlines are equipped so far.
Sustainability benefit
The improved aerodynamics of the aircraft lead to savings of around 400 tons of kerosene and around 1,250 tons of CO2 per aircraft per year.*.
* Referring to figures of a Boeing 777-300ER from SWISS
Avoids ~1,250t* of CO2 emissions p.a. per aircraft
Sustainable-Diffuser S-D40
BASF Coatings' Sustainable-Diffuser S-D40 is an innovative optical film with a unique microstructured surface that is used in luminaires to enable a very efficient and homogeneous illumination. The Diffuser S-D40 is the first in the market that uses a foil containing 80% post-consumer recycled plastic and replaces 100% of fossil-based raw-materials by biomass (using a REDcert certified Biomass Balance Approach).
Sustainability benefit
Utilizing the certified BASF Biomass Balance Approach and incorporating post-consumer plastic, the product enables a reduction of the PCF (Product Carbon Footprint) of around 40%.
