BASF has further developed its reporting and communication to stakeholders on sustainability issues. Its Corporate Report 2003 combines its sustainability reporting in a single publication. The new report provides information on all three dimensions of sustainable development and thus replaces the three individual reports BASF published to date. Additional information and data are provided on the BASF website. BASF is also orienting its reporting to the recommendations of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). On page 69 of the report is an index showing where, in the report, you can find information on the core elements and indicators of the GRI.

Some of the main topics dealt with in the report of relevance to implementation of the Global Compact, include environmental protection, product stewardship, occupational safety, distribution safety, supply chain, sustainability management, value added, employees, community, health protection and dialogue.

On page 11 of the report, BASF publishes for the first time global goals on all three pillars of sustainability and specific targets for further improvements to its performance on sustainability issues. There is a first progress report on the long-term global environment, health and safety targets (announced in Summer 2003), page 43-48.

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In the preparation of this report, multiple stakeholder responses, qualitative feedback from SustainAbility Ltd. and structured feedback from last years readers were recognized. Additionally, BASF asked for and profited from external verification as explained and referred to on page 67.