Clariant to continue powering operations with renewable electricity
Clariant will continue to power its BU Additives production facility in Knapsack, Germany, with 100% renewable electricity, following a successful pilot transition one year ago. This underscores Clariant's commitment to transitioning to renewable energy sources for its electricity demand and highlights its impact on climate change mitigation.
The facility in Knapsack houses four plants dedicated to the production of environmentally compatible flame retardants. Clariant's halogen-free Exolit products provide fire protection to buildings, transport vehicles, electrical components and devices, electronic equipment and furniture applications worldwide. Many carry Clariant's EcoTain® label, reflecting recognized superior sustainability advantages.
[caption id="attachment_97284" align="aligncenter"] Clariant's additives production facility in Knapsack, Germany, supplies halogen-free Exolit flame retardants using 100% renewable electricity exclusively. (Photo: Clariant)[/caption]The facility's transition to electricity derived 100% from hydropower and wind energy is verified through Unbundled Energy Attribute Certificates. This transition was implemented as part of Clariant's commitment to reducing Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions—indirect emissions from electricity consumption—at the facility and company level. This represents just one aspect of the broader transition toward more sustainable production and reduced carbon footprint across the company and business unit, which includes sourcing feedstocks as renewable raw materials. Clariant targets a 30% reduction in energy consumption and a 35% reduction in direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 (baseline 2013).
In Knapsack, particularly through the transition to renewable electricity, an estimated 7,300 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually will be avoided, depending on planned electricity demand. Additionally, the facility introduced ethylene from renewable sources as a raw material option for the new Exolit OP Terra flame retardant series. "Terra" highlights renewable raw material products with at least 50% Renewable Carbon Index (RCI) content based on mass-balance certification or actual renewable content sources. Exolit OP halogen-free flame retardants are the first to be based on renewable sources and have been proven recyclable as verified by Fraunhofer LBF. By providing Terra solutions and utilizing renewable raw materials, Clariant will further reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the product lifecycle.
