Reports Archive

Promoting Circular Economy at ICL Rotem

As ICL broadens and expands its view on transforming from linear process to circular economy, new business ventures come into view. ICL Rotem created a business unit dedicated to viewing its byproducts in a new light and finding value in what previously were byproducts or waste streams of the production process. ICL Rotem inputs energy, resources and work, in order to create its products. The byproducts of the company’s main production processes contain viable and valuable minerals. These include Fluorine, Silica,[...]

Specialty Fertilizers

ICL believes growth must never come at the expense of the environment. The Specialty Fertilizers business unit is responsible for innovative technologies implementation and precision plant nutrition to ensure we can grow better crops, plants, and grass with less. Controlled release fertilizers, fertigation, and wetting agents allow growers to optimize their yields, reduce fertilizer use, and save irrigation water. Controlled Release Fertilizers Plants are able to use nutrients from Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRFs) with great efficiency. Thanks to the high[...]

2, 4

Sustainability Index for Product Development

ICL combines environmental, health and safety criteria with commercial and operational considerations when developing new products, as part of its commitment to sustainable development. All potential products and materials are tested comprehensively and rigorously to specify their properties per an internal sustainability index for product development. All ICL R&D departments have implemented the Sustainability Index. Manufacturing products with a maximum positive impact and minimum negative impact throughout their life cycle, requires optimum product planning from the development stage. 12.4 By[...]

4, 5

KPIs, Trends & Insights

Below are the main sustainability quantitative KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) from recent years. Analysis of KPI trends have outlined the following insights: Acquisitions/Divestments In 2016, the data from ICL China YPH JV was integrated into the report. YPH JV is a major facility and its inclusion in the report has had major impacts on various indicators. Other sites purchased/sold since 2008 usually only had minor influences on ICL’s overall sustainability KPIs. Energy In August 2018, ICL has made a significant[...]

Risk Management & The Precautionary Principle

As part of ICL’s strategic planning to implement sustainable business activities, an organizational risk management structure has been established, which includes (among else) sustainability related issues. Through a structured process that identifies risks and opportunities, ICL applies what is referred to as “the Precautionary Principle” to environmental and economic issues. Industrial production, in general, and the chemicals industry, in particular, must take special precautionary measures to maintain a safe and healthy work environment. Several of ICL’s products, raw materials and production[...]

Agricultural Research & Training

There is critical need for increasing food abundance and quality, as well as for increased efficiency in the agriculture sector. Developing the knowledge regarding plant nutrition and proper fertilizing methods, and making it available to farmers worldwide, is a part of the response to the world’s growing population, decreasing arable land and the urgent need for greater environmental stewardship. International Potash Institute (IPI) ICL is involved and supports the goals of the International Potash Institute (IPI). The IPI’s mission is[...]

Ag Tech

A key element of ICL’s strategy is to develop advanced solutions for the agricultural sector by creating global leadership in Innovative Ag solutions. ICL is pursuing this by leveraging its excellence in R&D to enhance its product pipeline and by creating new synergies between its extensive range of upstream and downstream products. 2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to[...]

The Phoenix Plan

The Phoenix plan is a strategic project that includes the industrial development of the Bages basin which will create a wide impact related to the infrastructure and logistics of the area, as well as on international markets. With an initial investment of more than 240 million euros, the Phoenix Plan involves the extension and modernization of ICL’s facilities, improvement of transport infrastructure, expansion of logistics facilities at the Port of Barcelona and increased production of salt and potash. 8.2 Achieve[...]

2, 4, 5

Controlled Release Fertilizers

ICL is a global leader in controlled release fertilizers which enhance nutrient efficiency and minimize leaching and volatilization into the environment. These products enable growers around the world to reduce fertilizer usage and simultaneously achieve higher quality crops and yields with a lower environmental impact. Revolutionizing Fertilizers with Controlled Release Fertilizers CRF is considered the fertilizer technology with the highest nutrient use efficiency. 2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production,[...]

2, 4

Producing Fertilizers with Recycled Phosphate

Phosphate rock is an increasingly scarce source of phosphorous, and methods are underway to recover and recycle phosphates from other sources such as human sewage, animal manure and waste ash. ICL Fertilizers Europe’s goal is to replace phosphate rock with secondary phosphates. https://youtu.be/Yokepk-i66QPhosphorus is an essential element for plant growth that cannot be replaced. As phosphate rock becomes scarcer, ICL is looking at various alternatives. There is a possibility of recycling phosphate. Currently, available secondary phosphate, found in sewage sludge as[...]

2, 6

PolyStyrene Loop: Retrieving Bromine

Launching of the PolyStyreneLoop Project: Circular Economy in Action The project is an essential contribution to the EU’s efforts to develop a sustainable, low carbon, resource efficient and competitive economy.” Mr. Paolo Sandri ICL is one of the initiators of the PolyStyrene Loop (PSL) recycling project. This project contributes to circular economy by introducing a recycling scheme for Polystyrene (PS) foams containing the flame retardant HBCD (Hexabromocyclododecane). These foams have been long used as building insulation and also as packaging[...]

4, 5

Circular Economy

ICL is developing products and methods that will enable it to be an active participant in global circular economy efforts. ICL is piloting and implementing production processes for circular economy in its own facilities. Taking it even further, ICL is developing products from its own by-products, as well as, producing new products from waste. In order to reach a low carbon footprint, resource efficient and competitive economy, there is a need to transition to a more circular economy. A system[...]

Product Safety & Responsibility

ICL’s approach to product safety involves evaluating and managing its products through their life cycle in a responsible manner. ICL continuously assesses the risks of new chemical products prior to commercialization. In addition, ICL evaluates existing products at every stage of their life cycle, from the production process, through the supply chain, their use and end of life. As a leading global chemical company, ICL is careful to ensure that the chemical substances it produces and sells are handled in[...]

VECAP - Voluntary Emissions Control Action Program

VECAP was initiated 14 years ago by producers of brominated flame retardants to address concerns around production and use emissions of additives into the environment. Since its inception, it has not only improved additive management practices in user industry facilities, but it has demonstrably reduced emissions. It is a recognized risk reduction measure with clear value added for users and regulators including the European Chemicals Agency.The original VECAP programme relied on data collection surveys to demonstrate that year on year[...]

Water & Wastewater

ICL regards water as a high-value natural resource. Many ICL facilities are located in water-stressed regions, and the company is aware of the need to treat this high-value natural resource with care. Water conservation is, therefore, a prominent element of our business culture. ICL production facilities maintain various water conservation projects, from using brackish water to recycling wastewater. Water is the most widely consumed natural resource and the single most essential foundation of our existence. Clean, safe drinking water is[...]

Air Quality

ICL strives to continuously improve its environmental footprint. Reducing emissions to the air is a central goal of ICL’s environmental strategy. ICL regularly monitors emissions of pollutants in order to better manage our operations. ICL is taking steps to reduce air emissions by implementing innovative emission prevention solutions and switching to cleaner fuels. Air pollutants include substances, gases, and particles in the air, whether from natural sources or the result of human activity. Human endeavors, such as energy generation, industrial[...]

GHG & Climate Change

ICL takes extensive actions to reduce its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The main initiatives include reducing GHG emissions from chemical processes, transitioning to natural gas as a primary fuel source ,pursuing a multi-year energy efficiency plan and the future elimination for Oil Shale combustion. These initiatives have so far created a 21% reduction in the company's global GHG emissions compared with the 2008 base year. Climate change could also significantly impact agriculture, one of ICL’s main markets. ICL has set[...]

Waste

ICL is striving to implement the circular economy approach. In Israel, primarily, the by-product and waste streams of some plants serve as input materials for other production processes. In other production sites, ICL uses streams from other companies as part of a broader value chain. The Company is trying to “close the loop” for both its production processes and its products. Most industrial processes have various types of by-products. Some industrial wastes can be introduced back into the production processes,[...]

Energy

ICL strives to continuously improve energy efficiency and decrease its emissions. It is doing so by increasing its use of clean and renewable energy, utilizing highly efficient electricity production units (natural gas based co-generation) and implementing multi-year energy efficiency programs. All industrial activity requires energy. Our energy consumption is both direct and indirect. Direct energy is energy produced by fuel combustion, mainly used to operate steam boilers, electricity generators and similar installations at ICL production sites, as well as fuel[...]