• Plastic products include polystyrene, expandable polystyrene, polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyurethanes, engineering plastics, polyamides and specialty polymers
• Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) Europe certification is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental protection^®
• OCS is an initiative to prevent plastic pellet losses in production, transport, processing and recycling

All of BASF’s European production sites for engineering plastics, polystyrene, expandable polystyrene, polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethanes, engineering plastics, polyamides and specialty polymers are now certified by independent third parties in accordance with the Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) Europe Standard^® certified. “With the successful certification of polyamide production in Antwerp, the last milestone of this important project has been reached. We are delighted with this great achievement together with all the teams involved in the proper handling of plastic pellets,” says Sophie Van Dyck, Vice President Operations Polyamides & Precursors Antwerp. A total of 16 production plants for plastic granulate at six BASF production sites in Europe have been certified.

Operation Clean Sweep is an international program that aims to prevent the loss of plastic granules, flakes and powders during their handling during production, processing, recycling and transport, thus helping to prevent these materials from entering the environment. Companies that receive the OCS Europe certificate demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and the responsible use of plastics. BASF has been a partner of the OSC initiative in Europe since 2014 and has been actively involved in the development of the global OCS program since its inception in the 1990s.^®

“The OCS certification we have received shows the success of our measures to prevent plastic pellet losses. To achieve this, both consistent technical improvements and intensive training of employees were of great importance,” explains Marcel Brill, Head of Industry Affairs & Public Relations Styrenics Europe at BASF.

“As a pioneer in the industry, we voluntarily take responsibility and are actively committed to avoiding plastic pellet losses. In doing so, we strive to set standards and protect the environment in the long term,” adds Alexander Weiser, Senior Vice President and Head of Performance Materials EU.

The European OCS certification scheme for the prevention of plastic pellet losses, introduced by Plastics Europe and European Plastics Converters in 2023, enables companies to assess and quantify their implementation of OCS obligations with the help of accredited certification bodies. BASF has already implemented a large number of technical optimizations in its plastics production facilities as part of OCS. The company also trains its employees and encourages stakeholders along the value chain to join this important initiative.
About BASF

BASF stands for chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable the green transformation of our customers. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in almost all industries and in almost all countries of the world. Our portfolio comprises the Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions and Nutrition & Care segments as core businesses; the standalone businesses are bundled in the Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions segments. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion worldwide in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. For more information, see www.basf.com.