Due to the planned measures approximately 250 positions in production, marketing, sales and administration will be reduced by end of 2015. Consultations with the responsible employee representatives will be conducted.

While optimizing efficiency in its traditional paper chemicals business, BASF will continue to expand its newly established Center for Sustainable Paper Packaging. “We aim to grow our new business line of sustainable solutions for packaging manufacturers. In this area, licensing of intellectual property, development partnerships and smaller acquisitions are possible,” said Dr. Uwe Liebelt, President of the Paper Chemicals division. Recently, BASF signed an agreement with the French company BT3 technologies S.A.S. to evaluate the joint development of an alternative to wax in corrugated packaging board in order to facilitate recycling. “Altogether these measures will position the paper chemicals business to be more responsive to market and customer needs while showing significantly improved profitability.”