Focus On Great Big Green Week

During ''Great Big Green Week'' from 18th to 26th September, we put our focus on taking action against climate change. During this week, we heard from a few of our suppliers on how they are stepping up to take carbon down. The key suppliers in the spotlight are Achema, who are based in Lithuania, Grupa Azoty, who are based in Poland and Fertiberia, who are based in Spain.

First under the spotlight is GRUPA AZOTY,

GRUPA AZOTY are based in Poland and manufactures of Pulan, Pulan Macro, Zaksan 33 and Saletrosan Nitrogen Sulphur Compounds.

Below, you will find a list of bullet points which highlight how Grupa Azoty are working towards reducing the carbon footprint of their chemicals and fertilisers.

- They have commenced production of UREA with urease inhibitor.

- Implemented the process of reducing nitrous oxide emissions in the hydroxylamine installation.

- Implemented the reduction of nitrous oxide emissions in the nitric acid installation since 2008.

- Implemented a process of reduction of heat and electricity consumption in production installations.

- Grupa Azoty have started construction of a 1 MW photovoltaic farm, which will reduce the carbon footprint of chemical and fertilizer production.

Next, we hear from FERTIBERIA.

FERTIBERIA, are based in Spain and producers of 27N 12So and 26N 37So3 nitrogen sulphur compounds.

Grupo Fertiberia works in the production of crop nutrition solutions with maximum agronomic and environmental efficiency to lead the development of products designed for the European agriculture of the future.

The company maintains an active R&D&I policy, which allows it to be increasingly competitive, always guaranteeing the sustainability of the activity it carries out and contributing to the development of the sectors in which it operates. To this end, the commitment to research, development and innovation is applied to all business areas.

In this sense, the Grupo Fertiberia 's R&D&I policy is based on three principles:

•             The promotion of the circular economy and resource efficiency.
•             Conservation and improvement of soil and environmental quality.
•             Improving competitiveness, with exclusive, innovative and more efficient products.

Green hydrogen is already a reality for the alliance formed by the Grupo Fertiberia, a key factor in achieving climate neutrality and which could make Spain an industrial leader in this sector if the comprehensive project of both companies materializes, which aims to develop 800 MW of green hydrogen, with an investment of 1,800 million euros over the next seven years.

The innovation initiative will begin with the start-up of the largest green hydrogen complex for industrial use in Europe, which will be operational in just one year in Puertollano, and could be completed with a plan to multiply by 40 the capacity of this first plant with the development of three other projects between 2023 and 2027, at the Grupo Fertiberia factories in Puertollano (Ciudad Real) and Palos de la Frontera (Huelva).

With this strategic and decisive step, Grupo Fertiberia will manufacture crop nutrition solutions with high efficacy and environmental efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as required by the future Common Agricultural Policy.

Furthermore, thanks to these projects, it will contribute to the development of the entire value chain, creating almost 4,000 skilled jobs - 2,000 of them by 2023 -through 500 local suppliers.

Finally, in our Great Big Green focus, we hear from ACHEMA,

ACHEMA, based in Lithuania are manufacturers’ of Lithan, Prilled Urea, CAN and Nitrogen Sulphur Compounds.

Achema is working on alternatives to reduce the carbon emissions. Green ammonia is intended to be used in the production of low (zero) carbon fertiliser products.

A contract was signed in March 2021 to perform a 'Feasibility Study' which will analyze the possibilities to incorporate green, electrolyser produced hydrogen into the existing ammonia plant.

Also, a project is planned for 2022, to reduce annual Co2 emissions by 1.2%. Scope will include ammonia and air compress or efficiency improvement, installation of natural gas saturation unit and water-cooling cycle expansion.

With more and more customers making environmentally conscious purchasing decisions, Thomas Bell are working closely with suppliers in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacturing and working towards producing accurate carbon footprints for all our products. Customers thus will receive valuable information about the extent of which Thomas Bell operations contribute to the carbon footprint of their business activities and final products.

As a responsible importer, manufacturer and supplier fertilisers, we believe we have a responsibility to minimize our environmental impact at every opportunity.

Useful Links

Grupa Azoty

Achema

Fertiberia