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Select SDGs to find out how we are taking action in support of the UN Substinable Development Goals
Water is the most widely consumed natural resource and the single most essential foundation of human existence. Clean, safe drinking water is scarce. Less than one percent of the water on earth is available for human consumption.
Target: Increasing circular economy & water savings impact by additional 3% recycling of waste streams per year
Several of ICL’s major production sites are located in water-stressed regions. Water conservation is, therefore, an inherent part of ICL’s business culture. The Company continuously strives to decrease its use of water, especially potable water. Where possible, the Company’s production sites use brackish water for production processes or other water not suitable as potable water.
In 2020, there were 0 incidents of non-compliance associated with water quality permits, standards, and regulations.
ICL expects its water consumption to increase somewhat in the next few years, as major production facilities install new air emission filters and scrubbers that require water as part of their standard operation.
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 by year performance).
Overall ICL global water consumption (potable + non-potable) remained almost identical between 2019 and 2020, with a slight reduction of 1%. The overall decrease in 2020 was due to the cessation of the Vilafruns mine operations in Spain.
20% of ICL's production plants and 58% of total water consumed was in locations with High or Extremely High Baseline Water Stress.
Total global ICL wastewater output decreased by 2% in 2020 vs. 2019. The reduction was mostly derived from the cessation of operations by ICL Iberia of the Vilafruns mine in Spain.
ICL Rotem is implementing a master plan for wastewater treatment, with the principal goal of reducing effluent quantities, converting some effluents into products, recycling wastewater, reducing water consumption, treating/neutralizing wastewater and restoring wastewater ponds. The plan now includes additional wastewater streams created by air emission purification processes required by the Israel Clean Air Law.
Read MoreSince 2009, YPH has conducted a major project designed to eliminate all wastewater output. This “zero discharge” has been achieved via cascade and grade utilization, recycling collection, reuse systems and other actions. Despite the addition of ICL China YPH JV- to the Company’s reporting scope in 2016, total ICL wastewater amounts remained almost the same throughout the years 2016-2017 compared to 2015. This has also enabled a significant decrease in wastewater intensity resulting from phosphate production.
For more details on wastewater reduction projects at ICL sites and regions, see pp. 93-99 of ICL’s 2020 Annual Report.
