We transform raw materials and natural resources into the essential chemistries and products that improve the lives of people and support the transformation to a lower-carbon economy. In turn, our stakeholders expect us to responsibly manage how we produce goods and dispose of waste, which helps the environment and reduces operating and compliance costs. We are committed to improving our resource-use efficiency, acting on opportunities to reduce waste, encouraging our employees to reduce their own waste footprints, and enhancing the circular economy throughout our value chain. We also strive to be good stewards of the lands we own and lease to support our operations and are committed to preserving biodiversity.
Our 2022 Waste & Biodiversity Highlights
- Collaborated with industry, academic, and government experts to successfully remove TiO₂ and polymer from end-of-life plastic on a lab scale as part of a three-year recycling research project
- Tested a high-pressure filter press that achieved 35% reduction in filter cake volume sent to internal landfills, with planning for future capital projects at several sites
- Partnered with City of Pass Christian, Mississippi, to provide plastic bottle, aluminum can, and cardboard recycling in city offices and public buildings, to help reduce landfill contributions from a small town where establishing a recycling program was cost prohibitive
- Continued to a develop biodiversity framework in partnership with the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC)
- Achieved for the first time, Responsible Care® (RC) 14001 certification at all of our mining sites in Florida and Georgia, demonstrating our commitment to responsible mining operations
- Reclaimed 173 acres of disturbed lands at our mineral sands mining and separation operations in Georgia and Florida, where sites are typically mined for less than three years before restoration of the disturbed land
Committed to Waste Reduction and Sustainable Land Practices
Despite our best efforts, our landfill volume intensity increased in 2022 versus our 2018 baseline. There were several contributing factors, including the shutdown of a co-product facility and, the addition of a stabilizing agent. An additional factor is related to changes in the ore blend at one of our top landfill sites—one that we are addressing over the next five years.
We are also committed to reducing waste across our value chain. Working with our customers, we are helping them to reduce their waste footprints by researching and designing product packaging alternatives for recycling and reuse. In 2022, we shipped 45% of our products to customers in packaging that was either reusable or recyclable. Examples of reusable packaging include railcars, tank and bulk trucks, ISO containers, Flo-Bins, and barges. Examples of recyclable packaging include static dissipative flexible intermediate bulk containers, plastic drums and pails, and metal drums.
Our Land Use and Biodiversity Team evaluates current approaches to land use and finds ways to further support biodiversity. We’re also working with partners to identify opportunities for redevelopment, sustainable land practices, habitat restoration and enhancement, and managed open space for use by our employees and the local community.
