We recognize that businesses like ours have an important contribution to make towards reducing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change impacts. Our total absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and our total reported intensity scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per metric tonne of product have decreased by 46% since 2006. In 2022, we delivered a range of activities and investments to further improve our energy efficiency and reduce our GHG emissions.
2022 Performance
2022 saw increased customer demand for products made at sites that have a higher energy usage, meaning that our scope 1 GHG emissions rose by 1,449 tonnes. Our absolute scope 2 GHG emissions rose by 4,805 tonnes and our intensity scope 2 GHG emissions per metric tonne of product rose by 8.65 kg, when compared to 2021. This increase was primarily due to a decision to invest money into internal energy reduction projects, rather than purchasing Guarantees of Origin from our energy provider at one of our manufacturing facilities.
Without this change in approach, which we expect to have a better long-term impact on energy and GHG reduction, our reported absolute scope 2 GHG emissions would have decreased by 10% and our reported intensity scope 2 GHG emissions per metric tonne of product by 11%.
Energy Intensity of Production
- Energy Use
- Absolute GHG Emissions
- GHG Emissions
Resource Reduction Group
Our global Resource Reduction Group is responsible for maintaining a pipeline of energy, water and waste reduction projects and the sharing of ideas and best practice across the sites. This includes capital investment projects and local initiatives.
To achieve our interim objective of a 10% reduction in scope 1 emissions, by the end of 2030 based on a 2020 baseline, we have a dedicated energy reduction fund available for capital investment projects that support energy reduction where the payback period is longer than would normally be required.
Reducing Our Emissions
Activities introduced in 2022 to further improve our energy efficiency and reduce our GHG emissions included:
- St Mihiel, France
- Vernon, France
- Leuna, Germany
- Castiglione, Italy
St Mihiel, France
The upgrading of three GRP tanks at our St Mihiel site, with more efficient, greater insulated stainless steel tanks, will provide annual savings of 420 MWh of gas. Additionally, the site optimized its procedures by recovering heat from waste steam condensate and repurposing it to preheat the makeup water for boilers. This is expected to save 250 MWh of gas annually.
Vernon, France
The full renovation of the admin building roof and installation of improved insulation at our Vernon site will save 20,164 kWh of gas per year.
Leuna, Germany
Our Leuna site upgraded its production building lighting system with LED replacements resulting in an annual saving of 21,810 kWh of electricity.
Castigliogne, Italy
To reduce gas consumption at our Castiglione site, the aging boiler gas burners were replaced with more efficient units saving 2,424 MWh of gas annually. To further reduce emissions, the site crane was replaced with an electric vehicle and the replacement of existing air compressors, with an improved set up, led to enhanced optimization and reduced consumption, saving 36,000 kWh of electricity annually.
- Barcelona, Spain
- Oklahoma, USA
- Salisbury, NC, USA
- Ellesmere Port, UK
Barcelona, Spain
The replacement and upgrade to the aging insulation in the steam and condensate system at our Barcelona site will provide savings of 514 MWh of gas annually. The replacement of a cooling water pump with a more efficient unit is expected to save 61,826 kWh of electricity annually.
Oklahoma, US
Our Oklahoma, US site continued its program of enhancing the efficiency of the lighting on site by installing LED lighting in the warehouse and office, which is expected to save 41,007 kWh of electricity each year.
Salisbury, NC, USA
The site installed a new flaker return water precooling system, helping to reduce the energy needed to cool water on a key solid surfactant processing line and providing electricity savings of 89,647 kWh per year.