Responsible Care

Circular Economy Indicators 2021

Material streams in production

This is an overall picture of the material streams used in the Responsible Care companies. In 2021, 115 percent of the materials used were renewable or recycled.

Roughly 7% of materials leaving the production are by-products and waste materials. 86% of these materials were utilized as material elsewhere or in energy recovery.

 

 

The nature of production in the chemical industry varies a lot. In some companies almost all used materials are renewable, while in other companies it is extremely difficult to utilize renewable materials. The proportion of renewable raw materials used in production increased to 10 percent (10), and the number of companies reporting to use renewable materials was 46 percent (47). In addition to renewable materials, we are following closely the use of recycled materials. 53% (51) of companies reported to use recycled materials or side streams.

Water is partly used as a raw material in the production of chemical industry products, and some of it binds into products while some of it leaves the production as wastewater.

This material balance showcases the inputs and outputs of materials per 1,000 kg of products. More and more side streams from internal and external companies are utilised. 

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Water Consumption

In 2020, the companies committed to Responsible Care consumed 0,98 litres surface or ground water per one kg of production. Water consumption in production has significantly improved. Consumption per kilogram of production has decreased by 59% since 1995.

 

Definition

The water consumed in production is included in products or is discharged with wastewater for purification. Water consumption compared to total production signals resource efficiency. Water that companies use for cooling purposes is excluded. The water taken in flows in the cooling pipes separate from the materials used in the processes, after which the water is returned back to the sea or lake.

Results

The companies committed to Responsible Care consumed altogether around 23,2 million m3 of water. The amount decreased by 4%, from 2019. 

In 2020, at companies committed to Responsible Care programme, totally 0,98 litres surface or ground water was used per one kg of production. Part of this water was included in products and part of it was discharged with wastewater for purification. As a reference the corresponding figure at 1988 was 2.4 litres surface or ground water per kilogram of production. Water consumption has decreased by 59% since 1995.

93% of consumed water is originated from surface water sources and rest is consumed from groundwater sources.

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Energy Consumption

Energy Consumption

The companies committed to the Responsible Care programme have improved their energy efficiency gradually during the past years. In 2020 at companies committed to Responsible Care programme, totally 0.94 kWh energy was consumed per one kg of production, down 0,2 % from 2019. Since 1995, energy consumption proportionated to total production has decreased by more than 21 %.

Definition

Energy consumption is reported as consumption of electricity and other energy. Consumption of other energy includes the consumption of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Companies further define the borders on the basis of which they calculate their energy consumption. They also define the extent to which the fuels produced in processes and possibly recoverable as energy are taken into consideration. Consumption proportionated to total production signals improvement in energy efficiency.

Results

In 2020, electricity consumption and the consumption of other forms of energy by the companies committed to the Responsible Care programme amounted to 5.8 TWh and 16.5 TWh. In proportion to total production, the consumption of electricity and other forms of energy has decreased by 0,2 % from 2019.

In 2020 at companies committed to Responsible Care programme, totally 0.94 kWh energy was consumed per one kg of production. As reference the corresponding figure in 1995 was 1.2 kWh per kilogram of production. Since 1995, energy consumption proportionated to total production has decreased by 21 %.

The majority of consumed electricity is bought from energy producers. In 2020, bought electricity accounted for around 95 % of total electricity consumption, whereas around 29 % of other forms of consumed energy was bought from energy producers. Companies committed to the Responsible Care programme also build up energy in their processes. In many cases this energy was also sold to outside parties.

In 2020, totally 12 % of consumed energy was produced by using renewable energy sources. From consumed electricity 29% and from other energy 7% was produced by using renewable energy sources.

In 2019, Finland’s total energy and electricity consumption amounted to some 378 TWh, which was down by 1 % from 2018. The electricity consumption was 86 TWh, respectively. Around 38% of energy need was fulfilled by using renewable energy sources. Industry accounts for about 45% of Finland’s total energy consumption. *)

*) Source: Statistics Finland

https://www.stat.fi/til/ehk/2019/ehk_2019_2020-12-21_tie_001_fi.html

 

 

 

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Greenhouse gases

Greenhouse gases

In 2020, greenhouse gas intensity of production by companies committed to Responsible Care was around 226 gCO2e per one kg of production. In 1999 it was around 310 g CO2e per one kg of production. The companies committed to Responsible Care programme have reduced the greenhouse gas emissions by 27% during monitoring era.

Definition

Emissions of greenhouse gases include not only actual process emissions, but also emissions from on-site power and steam generation. Additionally, indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the production of bought energy are calculated.  Greenhouse gases affect global warming, and it is a global objective to reduce these emissions.

Other greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide are methane CH4, nitrous oxide emissions N20 and the fluorinated greenhouse gas HFC. In the greenhouse gas emission calculations methane and nitrous oxide emissions are converted to carbon dioxide equivalent kilos with the factors: for methane reported as CO2 and changed to CO2 by multiplying with a unique weight factor of 21 and for nitrous oxide reported as CO2 and changed to CO2 by multiplying with a unique weight factor of 310.

Results

In 2020, direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions by the companies committed to the Responsible Care programme were some 5.4 million tonnes. The emissions are down 6% from 2019, (5.7 million tonnes) and compared to the volume of production, emissions decreased by 4%.

Around 72% of the emissions originate as direct greenhouse gas emissions from processes, while the remining 28% is indirect greenhouse gas emissions from bought energy production. In one hand the processes have been developed towards low-emission processes, while the major reason behind the decrease in the greenhouse gas emissions is the development of the energy sector towards low-emission processes. 25% of the bought energy is from renewable sources.

The direct carbon dioxide generated by the companies committed to Responsible Care were 3.6 million tons in 2020. (2019: 3.9 million tons). Decrease from 2019 was around 8%.

Other greenhouse gas emissions than carbon dioxide were around 816 tons (Methane CH4 54 tons and nitrous oxide N2O 762 tons). The emissions from other greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide, when calculated as CO2 equivalents, were together 0.24 million tons. This increased by 9% from 2019 levels.

In 2020, greenhouse gas intensity of production of companies committed to Responsible Care was around 226 gCO2e per one kg of production, down 4% from 2019. This figure includes direct greenhouse gas emissions from production and on-site energy production and indirect fossil greenhouse gas emissions from purchased electricity and energy production. In year 1999 the number was 310 gCO2e per one kg of production.

By far the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Finland is the energy sector. At annual level total carbon dioxide emissions in Finland are around 53.1 million tonnes. *)

*) Source: Statistics Finland - Tilastokeskus - Energianhankinta ja kulutus ja Tilastokeskus - Kasvihuonekaasut sekä Tilastokeskus – Kasvihuonekaasuinventaario http://findikaattori.fi/fi/87

Source for the conversion factors: Motiva. Used factors for 2020 calculations:. 141 kgCO2/MWh for electricity and 154 kgCO2/MWh for other energy. (Previously used conversion factors: 141 kgCO2/MWh for electricity and 164 kgCO2/MWh for other energy)

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Air Emissions

Air Emissions

Emissions to air have steadily decreased in chemical industry. The companies committed to Responsible Care programme have reduced their emissions of acidifying gases by almost 93% since 1988. Reduction in the emissions of volatile organic compounds has been almost 70% at the same time. Direct emissions of the greenhouse gases have decreased by 28% since 1999.

Definition

The air emission index is a sum of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and of air emissions with acidifying potential and global warming potential, all proportionated to the volume of production. Apart from emissions with global warming potential, for which the base year is 1999, the base year of the index is 1988.

The environmental impact of different types of emissions has been rendered commensurable by multiplying the emission with a unique weight factor, which describes the environmental impact of the emission in terms of a reference chemical.

Emissions with acidifying potential include sulphur compound emissions (reported as SO2 and changed to SO2 by multiplying with a unique weight factor of 1.00), nitrogen compound emissions (reported as NO2 and changed to SO2 by multiplying with a unique weight factor of 0.41) and ammonium emissions (reported as NH3 and changed to SO2 by multiplying with a unique weight factor of 1.3).*)

Emissions with global warming potential include carbon dioxide emissions (reported as CO2 and changed to CO2 by multiplying with a unique weight factor of 1.00), methane emissions (reported as CH4 and changed to CO2 by multiplying with a unique weight factor of 21) and nitrous oxide emissions (reported as N2O and changed to CO2 by multiplying with a unique weight factor of 310). VOC emissions are reported as total VOC. *)

Results

Air emissions with acidifying potential by the companies committed to the Responsible Care programme have decreased by 93% since 1988. This shows that the companies’ emission limitation efforts have been successful. Similar development can be seen in VOC emissions, which have decreased by 70% since 1988.

Emissions with global warming potential (greenhouse gases) have been monitored in the chemical industry on a sectoral basis since 1999. This is the base year of the index for these emissions. The results show that direct greenhouse gas emission have decreased by 28% since 1999. In the same time, direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 27% since 1999. Direct greenhouse gas emissions are CO2, CH4 and N20 emissions from production processes and on-site-energy-production, while indirect emissions include the emissions from the production of bought electricity and energy.

*) Source: VNCI Guideline Environmental Performance Indicators for the Chemical Industry

**) Source: Statistics Finland

 

 

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Discharges to Water

Discharges to Water

Discharges to water in chemical industry decreased significantly during 1990s. Reduction in water discharges with eutrophication potential has been 65% and in potentially ecotoxic water discharges 87%.

Definition

The water discharge index includes water discharges with eutrophication potential and potentially ecotoxic water discharges, both proportionated to the volume of production. The base year of the index is 1988.

The environmental impact of different types of discharges has been rendered commensurable by multiplying the absolute amount with a unique weight factor, which describes the environmental impact of the discharge in terms of a reference chemical.

Discharges with eutrophication potential include discharges of phosphorus (changed to PO4 by multiplying with a unique weight factor of 3.06), nitrogen (changed to PO4 by multiplying with a unique weight factor of 0.42) and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) (changed to PO4 by multiplying with a unique weight factor of 0.022). *)

Potentially ecotoxic discharges include the discharges of mercury (changed to 1,4-Dichlorobenzene with a unique weight factor of 316.97), cadmium (changed to 1,4-Dichlorobenzene with a unique weight factor of 289.43) and lead (changed to 1,4-Dichlorobenzene with a unique weight factor of 2.4). *)

Results

Since 1988, the companies committed to the Responsible Care programme have succeeded in reducing their water discharges with eutrophication potential by 65%. In 2020 the water discharges with eutrophication potential grew by 1.3% compared to 2019.

This shows that the companies’ discharge reduction efforts have been beneficial throughout the review period. At their present level, discharges with eutrophication potential by the chemical industry as a whole are not significant in Finnish terms.

Similar and even more effective progress has been made in reducing potentially ecotoxic water discharges, which have decreased by 87% since 1988. In 2020 the trend kept on declining also with the potentially ecotoxic water, where a decrease of 2.7% compared to 2019 was reached.

*) Source: VNCI Guideline Environmental Performance Indicators for the Chemical Industry

 

 

 

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Near Miss Reporting

Near Miss Reporting and Safety Observations

Foreseeable work related to occupational health and safety has increased in companies committed to Responsible Care programme. Near miss reporting and safety observations resulted in 45 516 reports in total. This means 2.3 reports or observations per person.

 

Near miss reporting

Near miss reporting is a system which collects and evaluates data on potentially hazardous injuries and damages. Corrective actions are evaluated and implemented based on near miss reporting. Near miss reporting is an effective way of preventing injuries and damages.

Safety observations

Number of reported safety observations. Safety observations are observations in lack of physical environment or ways of doing, that might increase the risk for a work safety or process safety incident. Reported observations can also be positive observations for good conduct in physical environments or ways of doing.

Results

Near-miss-reporting or safety observations have been introduced in 94% of the companies committed to Responsible Care. 8,980 near-miss reports, and 36,536 safety observations were done in 2020. This means 2.3 reports per employee.

One of the most recent sings of a new safety culture is a national occupational safety card, which is rapidly becoming popular. In 2020, the card was in use in 68% of the companies committed to Responsible Care. In 2004 the card was in use in 30% of the companies committed to Responsible Care.

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Lost Time Injuries Frequency Rate

Lost Time Injuries Frequency Rate

The continuous improvement of health and safety benefits in chemical industry. In 2020, a total of 3.0 lost time injuries per million man-hours worked (LTI3) occurred in the companies committed to the Responsible Care programme. Lost time injuries frequency rate decreased by 33 % since 2019. Since 1988 the lost time injuries have decreased by 93 %. The lost time injuries frequency rate is significantly lower than in other industries.

Definition

Lost time injury is an occupational injury to an employee resulting in at least three days’ absence from work in addition to the day of accident. Not included are sick leaves, fatalities or accidents occurred when commuting between home and work. The frequency rate is expressed as the number of injuries per million working hours. Employee refers to all company employees excluding the personnel of outside contractors.

Work hours lost refer to the amount of work hours lost due to injuries defined above, not including those due to fatalities or invalidity. Lost time injury frequency rate measures the level of occupational safety of a company and forecasts the likelihood of occurrence of actual process accidents. The number of work hours lost gives an indication of the severity of injuries.

Results

In 2020, a total of 3.0 lost time injuries per million man-hours worked (LTI3) occurred in the companies committed to the Responsible Care programme. The number of work hours lost was 348 hours per million man-hours worked. The lost time injury frequency (LTI3) rate has decreased by almost 33 % from 2019 when the total was 4.4 lost time injuries per million man-hours worked. Since 1988 the lost time injuries frequency LTI3 rate has reduced by 93 %.

The number of work hours lost per million man-hours worked decreased by 23 %.

Injury to an employee resulting in at least one day’s absence from work is a more sensitive indicator, and progress has been similar to LTI3. In 2020, a total of 4.7 lost time injuries per million man-hours worked (LTI1) occurred in the companies committed to the Responsible Care programme. LTI1 has decreased by 28 % since 2019. The total for 2019 was 6.5.

34 % of the companies committed to the Responsible Care programme reported zero lost time injuries for both employees and contractors.

There were 4.8 accidents per million working hours (LTI1) resulting in at least one day's absence for contractors. The corresponding figure in 2019 was 5.8.

As a comparison, lost time injuries leading to a minimum 4 days off rate in 2018 was 11.0 per million man-hours worked. (*

*) Source: Federation of Accident Insurance Institutions - Statistics on occupational accidents and diseases 2018

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