BASF has reached a major sustainability milestone with its Rudong production site in China receiving four significant certifications and verification statements from TÜV Rheinland. The site was awarded ISO 50001 for energy management, ISO 14064-1 for greenhouse gas inventory verification, PAS 2060 for carbon-neutrality declaration, and the prestigious “Zero-Carbon Factory” certification—marking a major achievement for BASF’s Agricultural Solutions operations in China.
The certifications were presented during an official ceremony attended by senior leaders from BASF and TÜV Rheinland, including Jan Peter Bredehoeft, Senior Vice President and Head of Operations & Site Management for BASF Greater China; Jackson Wang, Vice President of BASF Agricultural Solutions Greater China; and Yonghai Chen, Senior Vice President for TÜV Rheinland Greater China.
According to Bredehoeft, the Rudong site plays a central role in BASF’s agricultural production footprint in China. After extensive equipment upgrades and retrofits completed in September 2024, the site achieved full decarbonization by transitioning its heating systems to renewable energy sources. This transformation made Rudong BASF’s first Agricultural Solutions production site worldwide to reach net-zero CO2 emissions, setting the stage for TÜV Rheinland’s independent verification. Bredehoeft emphasized that the achievement reflects the site’s progress in energy efficiency, resource use optimization, greenhouse-gas reduction, and carbon-offset initiatives, representing an important step in BASF’s wider sustainability strategy.
TÜV Rheinland’s Yonghai Chen highlighted BASF’s use of the organization’s comprehensive verification and sustainability services, which span quality, energy, environmental and safety certifications, carbon-footprint evaluations, and circular-economy support. He noted that the collaboration underscores the shared commitment to advancing low-carbon industrial practices and expanding long-term green partnerships.
Rudong’s pathway to zero emissions has been several years in the making. Since 2021, the site has sourced all its electricity from renewable resources, leaving steam generation as the primary CO2 contributor. In June 2024, BASF decommissioned the conventional steam heating system and replaced it entirely with renewable-powered alternatives, reducing emissions by an additional 1,100 tons per year. BASF has also signed a long-term agreement with a local energy provider to secure ongoing renewable electricity supply.
The site’s achievement contributes to BASF’s corporate climate goals, including a 25 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 compared with 2018 levels, and the company’s global ambition to reach net-zero emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.1 by 2050. Rudong now stands as a flagship example of how industrial operations can transition toward fully carbon-neutral production while supporting broader agricultural sustainability.
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