BASF Coatings implements 100% Renewable Electricity at Key Sites in North America

BASF’s Coatings division has successfully transitioned to 100% renewable electricity at its North American sites in Greenville, Ohio, and Blackman Township in Jackson County, Michigan, effective January 2025. The switch to renewable electricity will bring a significant reduction of more than 11,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, benefiting, benefiting both BASF Coatings’ operations and customers.

At its Greenville site, BASF Coatings produces resins, E-Coats, and clearcoats, while the Blackman Township site specializes in surface treatment solutions for the Surface Treatment global business unit of BASF’s Coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand. By investing in renewable electricity, the company aims to minimize its environmental impact and enhance sustainability in its operations while supporting customers to reach their sustainability targets. As of now, 17 sites operated by the company across all regions of the world rely on electricity generated from renewable sources. For customers sourcing from these sites, this means that their overall carbon footprint, also referred to as ’carbon backpack’ is reduced as well. In consequence the use of renewable electricity is helping to reduce the environmental impact along the whole value chain in the automotive industry.

“Using renewable electricity is a key step that is empowering change for a sustainable today and tomorrow,” said Dr. Markus Piepenbrink, Head of Sustainability at BASF Coatings. “This transformation in operations is another action driving our commitment to achieving our Climate Protection targets and making a difference. Additionally, we continuously innovate on CO₂-reducing solutions to further support our customers’ green transformation – such as thin film technologies or the usage of the mass balance approach.”

“Sustainability is a key priority for Chemetall as we strive to provide innovative surface treatment solutions that help our customers achieve their specific sustainability goals. By transitioning to 100% renewable electricity at our Blackman Township production site, we are taking a significant step towards reducing our carbon footprint. This initiative not only enhances the sustainability of our operations but also supports our customers in minimizing their overall environmental impact. We are committed to continuous improvement by utilizing renewable energy sources across all our facilities worldwide. This is an important part of our contribution to a more sustainable future,” said Frank Naber, Senior Vice President of Chemetall.

“This transition to leveraging the full power of renewable electricity for our products not only enhances the sustainability contributions of our solutions but also supports our customers in achieving their environmental goals,” said Jeffrey Jones, Vice President and Key Account Management North America OEMs at BASF Coatings. “Beyond that, we are empowering the automotive industry to further reduce its carbon footprint.”