Designing for the long term
LyondellBasell operates responsibly in each of the communities we call home. Guided by our internal standards of Operational Excellence, we take care to minimize our resource consumption and production of waste and emissions at each of our locations. These standards require our sites to assess and minimize potential operational impacts on the environment.
In addition to operating our facilities responsibly, we make a number of products which aid the conservation of environmental and natural resources. Many of our products enable consumers to reduce their environmental impact by saving energy or by reducing the amount of materials needed in contrast with competing solutions. For example, in 2010 we introduced new polymers for the production of lighter weight automotive components. This helps to reduce fuel usage every time a car is driven. Similarly, the use of food packaging products made from our polymers provides not only light weight advantages, but also helps to preserve the food itself. In addition, LyondellBasell products are used extensively in new generation infrastructure applications, such as solar cells, heat insulating roofing and wind turbines. Studies[1] show that the use of products such as insulation saves more energy than the energy required to manufacture them. In this way, we contribute to resource and energy savings over the long term.
Progress in Environmental Management in 2010
In 2010, LyondellBasell developed a new corporate Environmental Management System (EMS) based on the ISO 14000 standard. As part of this implementation, all of our plants, including those that already hold ISO 14000 certification, compared their legacy systems to a new Environmental Standard. Based on this analysis, we are upgrading the environmental systems at all of our plants. In 2010, we further consolidated our online knowledge sharing, most recently launching a new intranet waste treatment and prevention forum for plant staff. This will promote the global sharing of modern waste treatment practices at the operational level.
Energy-efficiency demonstrates our commitment to resource management and the environment
When we design our plants we use efficient designs to ensure best-in-class performance from the moment we start-up, and we strive to improve our operations year after year.
For example, many of our manufacturing sites use co-generation facilities to improve energy efficiency. A conventional power plant loses a significant amount of energy as heat during electricity production. Co-generation facilities, however, are significantly more efficient as they produce heat and power together.
Our first co-generation facility was installed in Channelview, Texas, in 1985. Today, eleven of our sites around the world are powered using this energy efficient technology. They generate 2,000 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power 2 million homes. For LyondellBasell, the use of co-generation results in approximately 1.2 million fewer tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, which is equivalent to taking 230,000 cars off the road.
In 2010 we continued our investment in this technology, by starting construction on a new co-generation plant at our Lake Charles facility in the U.S.. This facility was completed in early 2011 and will support the company’s energy reduction goals by producing electricity and steam more efficiently.
Turning waste into power
We believe in conserving energy and focusing on preventing the loss of valuable resources. Whenever possible, waste products are used as fuels, thereby producing energy while reducing waste disposal requirements- this amounts to a double environmental positive gain.
In addition, we audit our major production facilities throughout their lifetime to identify further potential energy savings opportunities. This ensures that we maintain an ongoing program of continuous improvement.
Improving our environmental performance is part of our long-term approach, and in recent years we have invested significantly in upgrading our facilities. As a result, many of our plants have realized considerable performance improvements, such as an eight percent reduction in air emissions in 2010.
[1]The impacts of plastics on lifecycle consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, Denkstatt GmbH, 2010.