BASF’s Commitment to Community BASF has been creating chemistry in Ascension Parish for more than 60 years. In that time, BASF has become a key partner to the parish through our commitment to safety and sustainability, community outreach to bolster the local workforce and strengthen educational opportunities, and continued growth and investment at our Geismar sites. BASF is the largest private employer in Ascension Parish with approximately 1,800 full time and contract employees. We invest more than $300 million annually in the parish and state through payroll, purchases, taxes and charitable contributions. BASF’s commitment to Ascension Parish goes beyond financial investments and includes the safety and well-being of the community. Each year, employees participate in thousands of hours of training on industry best practices to keep the Geismar sites operating in a reliable and secure manner. 36
ELEVATE 2021
Commitment to Safety and Sustainability At BASF, we are committed to protecting our employees, our community and the environment. We strive to be best in class and place safety above all else. BASF employees receive extensive training and participate in robust safety programs. While working closely with local and federal agencies, BASF continues to maintain and exceed industry standards for environmental, health and safety performance. Over the last decade, BASF grew considerably in both number of employees and operations, while significantly improving performance, with a 70 percent reduction in employee injuries, a 75 percent reduction in spills and a 60 percent reduction in emissions to air and water. Using state-of-the-art technology to improve emissions, reduce exposure and limit waste, BASF is living its core value of creating chemistry for a sustainable future. We will continue to look for opportunities through control systems, waste management programs and innovative energy sources to improve sustainability throughout the value chain.
Commitment to Growth and Investment Since 2009, BASF has invested more than $1 billion in new projects at the Geismar site, including the first phase of a new methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) synthesis unit, which was completed in late 2020. Construction of a second phase is ongoing, and startup is expected for the second half of 2021. The final phase, which is expected to bring the capacity to approximately 600,000 metric tons per year, should start-up around the middle of the decade. At only 25 percent capacity, there is significant opportunity for growth and expansion at the Geismar site
