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2004/09/24: BASF signs inter-institutional partnership for the construction of the Fundação Espaço ECO in Brazil |
- The Fundação Espaço ECO, located at the BASF Coatings site in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, will be made up of an inter-institutional partnership hosting Latin America’s first Ecoefficiency Excellence Center.
- BASF, GTZ and UNIDO together are helping to shape the future in a sustainable manner, focused on transferring knowledge and technology through solutions in ecoefficiency, environmental education and reforestation.
- 1 million euro will be invested through 2009.
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BASF, in cooperation with GTZ (the German government agency for international cooperation) and UNIDO (the UN Industrial Development Organization), and with the support of the municipal government of São Bernardo do Campo, SENAI and SESI, will lay the cornerstone for the ECO Space Foundation on September 24. The Foundation will be Latin America’s first center of applied ecoefficiency, a center of sustainable development excellence that also will be involved in reforestation and environmental education projects. By 2009, nearly 1 million euro will have been invested to conclude the project. The Foundation’s activities are scheduled to start up at the beginning of next year.
Together with its partners, BASF believes that it can build a successful future, developing intelligent solutions, especially by offering companies throughout Latin America the possibility of using Eco-Efficiency Analysis methodology. With the founding of the Fundação Espaço ECO, the partners are renewing this commitment and, consequently, the BASF’s action benefiting sustainable development in society will be expanded.
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Regional pioneers in analysis of ecoefficiency
The analyses will be carried out by the Regional Ecoefficiency Center, which will compare products and processes in order to evaluate which is the most ecoefficient — that is, which most satisfies economic, social and environmental requirements. The analysis will be based upon methodology for evaluation of the lifecycle of the products and processes according to concepts that combine environmental requirements, economic advances and social necessities. This innovative tool is certified by independent institutes and was developed and perfected by BASF AG, Germany. With the creation of the Foundation, ecoefficiency analysis will be put at the disposal of companies interested in using the methodology to appraise the ecoefficiency of their products and processes, and the results can be published and brought to the awareness of the end consumer in a number of different ways. In other words, in the analysis will make it possible to add a competitive advantage to the product and for the companies that make use of it.
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Much more for the preservation of the environment
The Foundation will occupy a green area of approximately 290,000 m2 that is considered to be a biosphere reserve — a zone internationally recognized by UNESCO’s Man & the Biosphere Program (MAB). UNESCO considered the Atlantic Forest region of Brazil, including the green belt around São Paulo, a biosphere reserve in 1993. Nearly two-thirds of the municipality of São Bernardo do Campo is located within this belt, thus is an area of important environmental interest since it is part of a group of areas used for studies about global climate trends. Between the 1950s and 1970s, the region was used for exploitation of native wood and, later, reforested with eucalyptus trees. Part of the natural vegetation is regenerating naturally with intrusion of native forest. This phenomenon can be speeded up through management of the area with activities that involve both the community and government. Besides the Center of Ecoefficiency, the Fundação Espaço ECO project, which is the first one in Latin America established through a public-private partnership, involves the development of environmental education programs — including technical courses — and an area for the development of projects and studies for management of seedlings for reforestation purposes.
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The Foundation’s partners
It is of fundamental importance that projects of this nature be sustainable, based upon a solid network of cooperation. Besides the initial financial support, the partnership institutions will provide all of their experience regarding questions related to social, environmental and economic development accumulated over many decades of activities in different countries. Furthermore, the Foundation will have other cooperation agreements with organizations and local public governments related to current activities. For example, the initiative already has entered into a partnership arrangement with the São Bernardo do Campo City Hall, the National Industrial Apprentice Service (SENAI) and the Industry Social Service (SESI). Each partner has its own different and supplemental applied competencies that will ensure the sustainability of the Foundation by sharing responsibilities and contributions.
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GTZ
GTZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit - GmbH is the German government agency for international cooperation whose goal is to contribute to improve social, infrastructure and environmental conditions in developing countries. Through GTZ, know-how and services also are made available to companies in international markets. GTZ has more than 25 years of experience in the field of international cooperation, maintaining partnerships in over 130 countries and operating through nine different regional offices around the world. It ensures prompt implementation of social projects as well as efficient financial processes.
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UNIDO
For over 30 years, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has been working with governments, commercial associations and private companies to solve industrial problems and supplying the necessary funding. With the advent of globalization, UNIDO has grown in importance, since many of the challenges facing developing countries can only be overcome with the help of an international organization. UNIDO has built a solid reputation as an honest and neutral broker. It operates as a world forum regarding the social, economic and technological consequences that result from industrial development.
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BASF. The Chemical Company
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Our goal is to grow profitably and further increase the value of our company. We help our customers to be more successful through intelligent system solutions and high-quality products. BASF’s portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. Through new technologies we can tap into additional market opportunities. We conduct our business in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.
In 2003, BASF had sales of more than €33 billion (circa $42 billion) and over 87,000 employees worldwide. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF), Paris (BA) and Zurich (AN).
Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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