WALLTITE®: Not Only a Colour but a Concept
By Fadeke Adegbuyi
At present, BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world. Founded in 1865 and nearing its 150th anniversary, BASF has a long history that includes production of synthetic dyes, manufacturing of nitrogen fertilizer and its contributions of urethanes solutions during the plastic boom of the mid 1900s. Today, they operate in a wide variety of markets and its business is categorized into the following segments: Chemicals, Plastics, Performance Products, Functional Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. Headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany they employ a workforce of over 111, 000 people worldwide.
BASF Canada is the Canadian affiliate of BASF SE. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, BASF Canada deals in agriculture and nutrition products, chemicals, plastics, performance, and fine chemicals, just to name a few. With a workforce of over 600 people, the Canadian organization takes pride in“helping customers to meet the current and future needs of society”. One of the company’s products is WALLTITE®, a medium density polyurethane foam insulation/air barrier system designed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.
Pierre Couture, Business Development Manager for BASF Canada’s Polyurethane Systems business, describes WALLTITE® as, “not only a name and a colour, but a full concept”, in part referring to the trademark purple color that distinguishes the product from its competitors. That is certainly the case. BASF Canada delivers a myriad of tools alongside its product WALLTITE®. One tool is a comprehensive Quality Assurance and Training Program, which all contractors who wish to use the product must be certified under.
“The program is certified by a third-party and involves an in-class course, an examination, and an evaluation component. Subsequently, while in the field, contractors have access to field-trainers in order to ensure they are delivering the standards the company sets under its Raising Performance to New Heights Program,” says Couture. Over 600 certified applicators belong to the Quality Assurance and Training Program.
“The construction industry is looking for a more sustainable approach,” notes Couture, “and WALLTITE® supports this direction. “WALLTITE® also has different environmental certification programs endorsed by independent third parties”, says Couture, referring to the EcoLogo™ and GreenGuard Children and SchoolsSM certification. The company also has its own Eco-Efficiency Analysis.
EcoLogo™ is “North America’s most widely recognized multi-attribute environmental certification” and provides the consumer with a certain level of assurance. It is a symbol of environmental excellence. To name a few of many criteria, under this certification products must be manufactured, transported, and disposed of in compliance with strict environmental standards. Products must also include 5% recycled content by weight and useblowing agents that utilize zero-ozone-depleting blowing-agent technologies.
WALLTITE® also meets the rigorous requirements of the GREENGUARD Certification Programs and GREENGUARD Children and Schools certification. Finally, under BASF’s Eco-Efficiency Analysis, which takes into consideration such things as land use, materials consumption, and energy consumption,WALLTITE® has been verified and endorsed by the National Sanitation Foundation. “We walk the talk,” says Couture.
Couture has been with BASF Canada since 1985 and started as a Sales representative. In his many years with the company he has seen great changes and endless innovation. Today, BASF seeks to establish WALLTITE® in other countries around the globe. According to Couture, the goal that informs much of their decision-making is “driving a culture of innovation which focuses on continuous improvement from [their] product evolution to [their] operations”.
BASF Canada’s sites also go through a Responsible Care re-verification annually to ensure they’re in compliance with the Responsible Care standards that relate to safety, healthy, and environment set by the Chemistry Industry Association Of Canada (CIAC). According to the CIAC’s 20th anniversary edition of its Reducing Emissions Report, such initiatives have allowed CIAC members, including BASF, to nearly eliminate emission to water, and reduced ozone depleting and global warming potential.
Globally, BASF’s products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life.
