The world's biggest chemical manufacturer, BASF, claims to be the first company to launch a corporate labelling scheme for "eco-efficient" products. A key aim is to open up new markets or bolster existing ones for BASF products, while allowing customers to claim that they are using "green" raw materials. But environmental groups and government-backed eco-labelling schemes are sceptical - and warn that BASF's plans to extend the scheme to consumer products will be met with suspicion by the public.

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