Ludwigshafen, Germany – February 15, 2018 – BASF joined the World Plastics Council (WPC), a global organization of key leaders in the plastics industry. The WPC promotes industry topics of global relevance like the responsible use of plastics, efficient waste management and solutions to marine littering.

“Doing business in a sustainable manner is an integral part of BASF’s strategy and has been a central inspiration already since its foundation. For example, using by-products of one plant as raw materials for another does limit waste generation and increase efficiency. This Verbund principle is part of BASF’s identity,” explained Raimar Jahn, President Performance Materials, BASF. “Additionally, we are involved in initiatives addressing global challenges and engaging entire value chains such as Operation Clean Sweep®. We implement this international program designed to retain plastic pellets from getting lost in the environment,” said Jahn. “Joining the WPC is a way to be further involved in creating a world that provides a viable future with enhanced quality of life for everyone.”

James Seward, Chairman of WPC and Vice President at LyondellBasell, welcomes BASF as new member to help in WPC’s global efforts to deliver sustainable outcomes for the plastics industry and for society. According to WPC, the industry has partnered in many efforts to investigate and prevent marine debris around the world under the ‘Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter’. This has been signed by 70 plastics associations in 35 countries. The most recent Progress Report lists 260 projects that have been completed or are in progress in various parts of the world.

BASF is as well a member of American Chemistry Council and PlasticsEurope that are associate members of the WPC and working towards a more sustainable, circular and resource-efficient economy. The WPC does not replace national or regional plastics associations. Instead, it focuses on issues that require global or at least multi-regional solutions. For a company such as BASF, present in all markets, these widespread actions can be implemented throughout all the regions to contribute to circular economy and a cleaner tomorrow.

Learn more about BASF’s efforts in the area of circular economy:
https://www.basf.com/en/company/sustainability/management-and-instruments/circular-economy.html

Learn more about BASF Plastics:
https://www.plasticsportal.net/wa/plastics~en_GB/portal

Learn more about marine litter solutions of the plastics industry:
https://www.marinelittersolutions.com http://www.opcleansweep.eu/

Learn more about World Plastics Council:
http://www.worldplasticscouncil.org

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.

Company Sets Goal to Help Collect and Recycle a Bottle or Can for Every One it Sells by 2030

ATLANTA, Jan. 19, 2018 – The Coca-Cola Company announced today that it is fundamentally reshaping its approach to packaging, with a global goal to help collect and recycle the equivalent of 100% of its packaging by 2030.
This goal is the centerpiece of the Company’s new packaging vision for a World Without Waste, which the Coca-Cola system intends to back with a multi-year investment that includes ongoing work to make packaging 100% recyclable. This begins with the understanding that food and beverage containers are an important part of people’s modern lives but that there is much more to be done to reduce packaging waste globally.

“The world has a packaging problem – and, like all companies, we have a responsibility to help solve it,” said James Quincey, President and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. “Through our World Without Waste vision, we are investing in our planet and our packaging to help make this problem a thing of the past.”

The Company and its bottling partners are pursuing several key goals:

• Investing in the planet: By 2030, for every bottle or can the Coca-Cola system sells globally, we aim to help take one back so it has more than one life. The Company is investing its marketing dollars and skills behind this 100% collection goal to help people understand what, how and where to recycle. We will support collection of packaging across the industry, including bottles and cans from other companies. The Coca-Cola system will work with local communities, industry partners, our customers, and consumers to help address issues like packaging litter and marine debris.
• Investing in packaging: To achieve its collection goal, The Coca-Cola Company is continuing to work toward making all of its packaging 100% recyclable globally. The Company is building better bottles, whether through more recycled content, by developing plant-based resins, or by reducing the amount of plastic in each container.
By 2030, the Coca-Cola system also aims to make bottles with an average of 50% recycled content.
The goal is to set a new global standard for beverage packaging.

Currently, the majority of the Company’s packaging is recyclable. World Without Waste is the next step in the Company’s ongoing sustainability efforts, building off success in replenishing an estimated 100% of the water it uses in its final beverages. The Company achieved and exceeded its water replenishment goal in 2015, five years ahead of expectations. These efforts are part of the Company’s larger strategy to grow with conscience, by becoming a total beverage company that grows the right way.
“Bottles and cans shouldn’t harm our planet, and a litter-free world is possible,” Quincey said. “Companies like ours must be leaders. Consumers around the world care about our planet, and they want and expect companies to take action. That’s exactly what we’re going to do, and we invite others to join us on this critical journey.”
The Coca-Cola Company will work to achieve these goals with the help of several global partners:
the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative, The Ocean Conservancy/Trash Free Seas Alliance and World Wildlife Fund (The Cascading Materials Vision and Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance). Coca-Cola will also launch efforts with new partners at the regional and local level and plans to work with its key customers to help motivate consumers to recycle more packaging.

To learn more, visit Coca-Cola Journey.

At the beginning of December 2017, ALTEO Group closed the deal of acquiring Domaszék 2MW Kft. to become the owner of nearly 2 megawatt photovoltaic power plants at Domaszék near Szeged, which is the first operating solar unit in the ALTEO Group’s power plant portfolio. The four solar power units of 495 kilowatts based on silicon crystalline technology were built during summer of 2017.

By the end of Q2 2018, the energy company listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange will have had 6 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity, as it has started the acquisition of two solar power project companies with permits for a 2-2 megawatt installation at Monor in Pest County.

2nd European Pro bono summit was held in Budapest, aiming to strengthen cooperation between corporate and civil sector through spreading skill based corporate pro bono volunteering practices.

Over 100 representatives of 20 companies from 23 different countries participated at the summit, experts from the pro bono profession came to share knowledge and experiences about pro bono trends and best practices. Professional workshop on pro bono was held by KPMG and its corporate – GE Hungary, LogMeIn – and civil –Kék Vonal Foundation- partners. During interactive workshops participants also worked out the criterias of long lasting and sustainable pro bono practice: linking pro bono to personal and business goals, as well as having a systematic measurement tool for evaluating the internal and external impacts of pro bono.