(1888PressRelease)
November 06, 2009 - The new packaging concept solves the disposal issue which is pressing in many African countries. It also offers improvements suggested by partners working in regions where malaria is endemic. BASF will deliver several thousand nets with the new packaging in the coming months. If customer feedback is positive, all Interceptor nets will be sold in this environmentally friendly packaging.
“The new packaging system exploits BASF’s expertise in paper,” says Claus Kaiser, production manager for Interceptor. The requirements for the new bags are high: Next to biodegradability, an extraordinary tensile strength must be guaranteed because the bags need to withstand extremely high pressure during baling. This process is necessary to reduce the volume of the nets during shipment. Moreover, many NGOs with experience in malaria endemic areas suggested that the new bags should come with detachable use instructions and net identifier tags with a barcode. This will allow users to keep the care and use instructions and allow partners to track and record the distribution of nets.
The bags have proven to be successful in a series of tests that confirmed their strength and simple handling. Now BASF will distribute thousands of Interceptor nets in the new eco-friendly bags in the next few months to evaluate consumer acceptance in select African countries.
“I’m glad that we were able come up with an environmentally-friendly and innovative solution for Interceptor packaging,” says Claus Kaiser, “which meets the requirements of our partners and their customers in the fight against malaria.”
About the Crop Protection division
With sales of € 3.4 billion in 2008, BASF’s Crop Protection division is a leader in crop protection and a strong partner to the farming industry providing well-established and innovative fungicides, insecticides and herbicides. Farmers use these products and services to improve crop yields and crop quality. Other uses include public health, structural/urban pest control, turf and ornamental plants, vegetation management, and forestry. BASF aims to turn knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASF’s Crop Protection division is to be the world’s leading innovator, optimizing agricultural production, improving nutrition, and thus enhancing the quality of life for a growing world population.
Further information can be found on the web at www. agro.basf.com .
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has approximately 97,000 employees and posted sales of more than €62 billion in 2008.
Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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