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In order to reach a low carbon footprint, resource efficiency and competitive economy, companies must transition to circular economies. A circular economy maintains the value of products, materials and resources for as long as possible, reduces waste generation, and saves energy.
In order to minimize the environmental impact of products at the end of their respective life cycles, ICL has embraced an Integrated Industry Approach. According to this approach, the industrial production process shifts from a linear process, in which raw resources are passed through the production chain and eventually become waste, to a circular process where process output serve as input for other production processes.
As ICL develops more sustainable products from its varied output streams, intense efforts are being made to integrate its products and byproducts into circular processes. ICL’s highly integrated value chains use advanced processes which utilize process outputs and byproducts to enable the cost-efficient conversion of raw materials into higher value-added products.
A new circular product, developed recently by ICL’s RD&I, is called MagiK. MagiK was developed from a byproduct stream created as part of magnesium’s production process.
In its Phosphate Solutions division, ICL is looking for alternative sources of phosphorus, a necessary mineral for healthy plants, from sources other than phosphate rock. Alternative sources can be found in byproducts from production processes, for example, sewage sludge.
ICL’s latest circular economy innovation is Pearl® Technology; recycled phosphorus that helps close the phosphorus cycle, reduce losses to the aquatic environment, and preserve the primary and finite resources of rock phosphate to produce conventional fertilizers. Pearl® is sustainably recovered from high concentrations of phosphorus in water streams sourced from municipalities, and industries such as mining, food processing and livestock. The recovery process utilizes a unique process which allows recovery of a pure struvite granule. Struvite has proven to be an asset in plant health and growth, and is incorporated in ICL’s premium CRF range for turf, Sierrablen Plus.
Read MoreIn the Industrial Products division, ICL is focused on retrieving bromine from various waste streams. Furthermore, it is reviewing how its new generation of flame retardants can function as part of a circular economy.
In Israel, facilities under the Industrial Products division are involved in circular economy initiatives regarding energy circularity. In ICL’s plant in Neot Hovav, is buying byproduct steam from an external power station located nearby. In ICL’s plant in Sdom, hydrogen that is emitted as a byproduct is now used as fuel in an emissions reduction facility.
As part of its sustainability vision for 2030, ICL has set a target of increasing circular economy and water savings impact by additional 3% recycling of waste streams per year. This KPI includes both internal water savings and external re-use of waste by external partners.
ICL-IP has created an internal Circular Economy Forum in order to exchange information and ideas regarding potential recycling projects and dialogue with customers. Representatives from ICL’s companies in Asia, Europe, Israel and the USA have partnered together to map circular economy opportunities both within and outside of ICL.
Dual use and a double win
The Fibrisol Australia Sustainability Initiative to reduce the disposal of materials has created a new opportunity. Salt from dry cleaning blenders is sent for reuse by the local leather industry for cleaning its own production lines. This circular economy initiative reduces the disposal of materials and allows industrial symbiosis with other industries to use more sustainable sources for their materials.
From byproduct to excellent solution
The production of a certain product in ICL’s Gallipolis Ferry site produces significant amount of a certain byproduct. The GF team, together with R&D, tested it for road pavement application in which it performed excellent and passed all the performance grade testing. ICL is now planning to launch it as a new product as antistrip additive for paving and road applications.
As ICL expands its vision of the circular economy and its resources, it is looking for advantageous partnerships to propel it forward. As a result, the Company has joined the Center for Resource Recovery and Recycling, CR3.
CR3 is committed to become a cooperative research center focused on the sustainable stewardship of the earth’s resources. Its focus is to help industries create a sustainable future. CR3 helps advance technologies that recover, recycle and reuse materials throughout the manufacturing process. This creates opportunities to reduce energy costs and increase profitability, while protecting natural resources.
The European Commission has adopted a new policy objective which aims to achieve a sustainable, low carbon, resource efficient and competitive economy. The Circular Economy Package includes a comprehensive commitment to eco-design, the development of strategic approaches for plastics and chemicals, a major initiative to fund innovative projects under the umbrella of the EU’s Horizon 2020 research program, and targeted action in areas such as plastics, food waste, construction, critical raw materials, industrial and mining waste, consumption and public procurement.
ICL Food Specialties has introduced the newest generation of JOHA® emulsifying salts, the JOHA® SF line, used to optimize protein content in processed cheese and deliver superior benefits.
ICL’s innovative emulsifying salts, which were nominated as a finalist for the Food Tech Innovation Awards were developed to reduce additional ingredients typically needed for traditional processed snacking cheeses. JOHA salts offer an increased firmness compared to standard emulsifying salts. As a result, developers can create competitive cheese products at optimal costs. The SF line is ideal for spreadable, snackable, and aluminum foil-packed processed cheese applications, as well as analog and UHT-treated cheese applications.
As part of YPH’s circular economy efforts, the company develops a variety of different uses for phosphogypsum. One such solution integrates phosphogypsum into road pavements. A full-scale pilot for using phosphogypsum in road pavement is expected to be carried out in in 2022.
Another solution that is being tested on test pilot plots in YPH, is the use of phosphogypsum as fertilizer. The pilot plots were seeded with various grasses and trees, and various fertilizer formulations were used on the plots. The plots were then monitored, to observe environmental impact.
ICL is one of the co-founders of the PolyStyrene Loop (PSL) recycling project, which introduced a recycling scheme for Polystyrene (PS) foams containing the flame retardant HBCD (Hexabromocyclododecane). The PolyStyrene Loop facility, located in the Netherlands, recycles EPS foam demolition waste into new high-quality raw material. Impurities, such as cement or other construction residues, as well as the legacy flame retardant HBCD, is removed, and the valuable bromine it contains is recovered and reused in the polymeric flame retardant FR-112P.
The PolyStyrene Loop demonstration plant, located in Terneuzen, Netherlands (adjacent to ICL’s site), and had the capacity to treat up to 3,300 tonnes of PS waste per year.
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