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Select SDGs to find out how we are taking action in support of the UN Substinable Development Goals
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 and agricultural activities, and transportation are responsible for generating the majority of air pollutants. Common pollutants in industrial activities, that are similar to ICL’s, include nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and others.
Maintaining air quality at our production sites, as well as reducing emissions into the air, is a central goal of ICL’s environmental strategy. Typical materials emitted are mainly inorganic compounds and particles and a minority of volatile organic compounds. The Company regularly measures its emission of pollutants, to better monitor and locate uncontrolled emissions in accordance with local law, regulations and conditions of each site’s business licenses, through usage of accepted technologies. Moreover, ICL takes steps to reduce air emissions of various pollutants in different ways, such as implementing innovative emission prevention solutions and switching to cleaner fuels.
To assure progress of reduction efforts and the compliance with all air related regulations (with an emphasis on the Israel Clean Air Law), ICL established the following organizational-wide air emission targets:
The main reduction steps completed, as well as expected in the near future:
ICLs expects its air emissions to continue to decrease in the next few years, as the Company continues to implement the Clean Air Law at its Israeli sites, including the reduction steps described above and other steps, yet to be determined.
Note: In the charts below, 2018 appears as the base year used by ICL to measure its long-term performance (in addition to short-term, year over year performance). Air emissions data is based on direct measurements of emissions from point sources.
Following are the annual trends in air emissions. Since 2018, ICL has reduced its global point SOx emissions by 36%; point NOx emissions by 1.6%; point PM emissions by 43%; and point VOC emissions by 3%. Read more about air emissions reduction improvements in ICL’s 2020 Annual Report. See specific 2020 trends below.
SOx emissions are heavily dependent on the operation of the sulphuric acid production plants at ICL Rotem. In 2020, ICL’s global SOx emissions were reduced by 13% vs. 2019, and by 36% vs. 2018. These significant reductions are almost completely attributed to the installation of advanced and improved catalysts at both Rotem sulphuric acid production plants (Plant 10 in 2018, Plant 11 in 2019). This has also resulted in a significant decrease in relative terms of SOx per total phosphate production.
NOx emissions were reduced by 4% in 2020 vs. 2019, and by 1.6% vs. 2018. The new Sdom power plant has been fully operational since August 2018, and 2019 was its first full year of operation. The Sdom CHP plant, which is a major emissions source, has established regular operations. Therefore, no major changes are expected in NOx emissions in the near future.
PM emissions were reduced by 9% in 2020 vs. 2019. Most of this reduction is attributed to a significant reduction in PM emissions from ICL Rotem’s phosphate fertilizers facility. The reduction is also attributed to discontinuation of Rotem Zin mining activities. In the next few years, more projects to decrease PM emissions will come to fruition. Thus, we expect a further reduction of PM emissions in the foreseeable future.
In parallel to the significant reduction in NOx and PM emissions, the new Sdom power plant has also resulted in an unavoidable increase in VOC emissions by 24% in 2020 vs. 2018, and by 15% YOY, due to the large increase in natural gas consumption. The major switch to self-production of electricity at ICL’s highly efficient new CHP plant allows for indirect reduction of emissions in other external power plants.
ICL’s global emissions of Ammonia were reduced by 82% in 2020 vs. 2018, mostly due to significantly reduced emissions at ICL China YPH. Ammonia emissions are generally very low compared to most other air emissions resulting from ICL’s operations and described in this report.
ICL’s Ammonia emissions in Israel are heavily dependent on the production of Nitrous Acid and Ammonium Nitrate at ICL Haifa F&C. In 2020 these emissions were eliminated due to the implementation of new Ammonia treatment technology in the Ammonium Nitrate facility stack at ICL Haifa F&C.
