The name BASF is an acronym for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik, something like "Aniline and Soda Factory of Baden". The company was founded in 1865 by Friedrich Engelhorn in southwest Germany, on the banks of the Rhine, at a time when cities were beginning to use coal gas for public lighting. That process left behind a thick byproduct called tar, which until then was discarded. Engelhorn had the vision to make use of it: from tar, aniline could be obtained, a base for making synthetic dyes, and that marked the origin of modern chemistry. BASF started by producing dyes for the textile industry, but soon expanded its business to other industrial compounds and turned its plant in the town of Ludwigshafen into a factory city. More than 150 years later, it continues to operate its largest chemical complex in the world there. Over the years, the company has transformed into a global giant. Today BASF is present in 92 countries, employs more than 112,000 people, and has more than 235 ...