Dr. Markus Piepenbrink, Head of Sustainability at BASF Coatings, said: “Climate protection, eco?efficient solutions with resource?conserving materials, and safe and sustainable products for our customers – these are our priorities. We actively drive these topics and thereby contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
While all 17 SDGs are important, BASF Coatings prioritizes climate action, quality education, sustainable innovation, clean energy, decent work and economic growth, responsible consumption and production, and gender equality. The company links environmental and social aspects within each target area.
For Goal 13: Climate Action, BASF Coatings reduces greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain. The company sources almost 70% of its global electricity from renewable energy. It supports customers with CO?-reduced products, including biomass-based materials, CO?-efficient painting processes, and sustainable surface solutions.
BASF Coatings also addresses Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, by developing new products and optimizing processes with partners. Examples include sharkskin technology for aircraft, which improves aerodynamics and reduces CO? emissions; VIANT, a coating combining conversion and primer layers in one dip, saving energy, water, and chemicals; and the Overspray-Free Application process for two-tone coatings, which cuts energy use and emissions by up to 80%. These innovations offer customers tools to achieve ambitious climate targets.
Goal 4: Quality Education is addressed through vocational training and dual study programs. At Münster and Würzburg sites, 132 young people are currently in training. The company emphasizes lifelong learning, offering modular development programs covering technical innovations, digital skills, and AI applications. BASF Coatings also supports school-to-work initiatives, the “Jugend forscht” program, and competitions such as R?M Best Painter and WorldSkills to cultivate the next generation of vehicle refinish painters.
Piepenbrink added: “Sustainability is both our obligation and our opportunity. We want to create positive impacts for the environment and society and drive change together, thereby supporting the UN goals.”
BASF Coatings operates globally in automotive OEM and refinish coatings, as well as surface treatments for metal, plastic, and glass in various industries. In 2024, the company achieved global sales of approximately €3.8 billion. BASF, the parent company, combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, with around 112,000 employees worldwide and total 2024 sales of €65.3 billion.
Through its sustainability focus and innovations, BASF Coatings demonstrates how corporate action can advance the UN SDGs, supporting environmental, social, and economic goals while providing solutions that benefit customers and society.
