BASF awarded Silver Status by Carbon Literacy Project

Emma Gregory, External Communications | BASF

In 2020 BASF plc announced it was the first Carbon Literate Organisation in the UK chemical sector. Working with The Carbon Literacy Project, BASF developed an accredited, company specific course which allowed participants to be certified as ‘Carbon Literate’. BASF has since adapted the programme for a wider audience, inviting customers and other industry contacts to take part in the training. BASF plc has now been awarded Silver Status by the Carbon Literacy Project, a Manchester-based non-profit organisation.

Carbon Literacy provides learners with ‘an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis.’ 

Translating corporate sustainability goals

“BASF takes its commitment to sustainability seriously and we have ambitious climate change targets,” states Tony Heslop, Senior Sustainability Manager, BASF UK & Ireland. “We were keen to translate our corporate strategic sustainability goals into something more tangible for our employees within the UK and we felt the Carbon Literacy programme was the ideal vehicle, something that could help us engage with our colleagues at a local level, start conversations and encourage behavioural change. It was on that basis that we decided to develop our own course.”

The Carbon Literacy training course involves learning about greenhouse gases and their impacts, how the climate is changing and what that means for individuals and society.  It then looks at the various choices people have in their everyday lives and how different choices may reduce the greenhouse gases produced. At the end of the course, each participant commits to at least two impactful actions – one to reduce their personal carbon footprint and the other to reduce their organisation’s carbon footprint. Since its inception, Carbon Literacy training at BASF plc has seen over 180 participants certified from across the chemical industry.

Commitment to Carbon Literacy 

BASF joins almost 100 other leading companies that have been accredited by The Carbon Literacy Project as having a substantial commitment to Carbon Literacy. Accreditation supports the development, recruitment and retention of a Carbon Literate workforce and requires an organisation to engage positively with its audience or community in developing and delivering low carbon behaviour.

Managing Director, BASF plc, Thomas Birk concludes, “BASF is committed to developing and delivering its Carbon Literacy programme. Achieving Silver Status is something we are proud of and we will continue to promote in our organisation, our industry and beyond.”