Sustainable products
We want our product offering to be sustainable and responsive to challenges of the contemporary world.
We want our product offering to be sustainable and responsive to challenges of the contemporary world. We are developing a portfolio of sustainable products, both fertilizers and plastics. We are also changing our manufacturing practices by managing raw materials more efficiently and cutting energy consumption. Production operations conducted in an efficient, innovative and environmentally sound manner are the priority of our sustainable development.
We want all entities engaged in agricultural production to see the Grupa Azoty Group as much more than just a manufacturer of fertilizers. We have comprehensive, reliable and up-to-date knowledge of effective agricultural technologies. We know how the size and structure of an agricultural farm, production methods or the machinery park affect the results of agricultural production. We are able to provide valuable advice on how to increase the quantity and quality of crops by adding nitrification inhibitors to fertilizers that increase nitrogen uptake. As a result, the effects of the fertilizer application are prolonged and its losses are significantly reduced. We also advise farmers on how to reduce nitrogen doses and better adapt fertilization timing to the timing of other agricultural treatments and weather conditions.
We manufacture fertilizers tailored to the specific needs of different fields and crops. In this way soil receives only those nutrients it actually needs. Our services to farmers, based on a satellite technology and advanced scanners, support and popularise precision agriculture and help reduce fertilizer consumption by up to 30%. We share our fertilizer expertise with farmers and food producers through a wide range of nationwide educational initiatives.
Read more about our educational initiatives for farmers
Read more about our initiatives for precision agriculture
Sustainable products are increasingly becoming the specialisation of our Plastics segment. In 2021, we continued research and development work aiming to expand our product portfolio in line with the principles of circular economy. We focused our research efforts on the development and implementation of new specialised, high-margin plastics technologies. In 2021, we also consistently took steps to curtail the consumption of energy and raw materials in our production processes. We identified three key nodes of the product chain that have an impact on environmental protection in general. Given their bearing on sustainability, the implementation of these three key tasks has become a priority in driving innovation for the Plastics segment.
Read more about our plastics application design and development centre
In line with our ESG strategy:
- we support food security
- we design and manufacture biodegradable plastics
- we apply effective fertilizer formulas helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Modern and environmentally-friendly NPK fertilizers
Fosfarm is a line of modern and environmentally-friendly NPK fertilizers, representing a rational and effective source of nutrients. The new line developed by the Grupa Azoty Group’s Gdańsk-based company is another step towards achieving the goals of the European Green Deal. The fertilizers are manufactured in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, including circular economy. They are enriched to include calcium, magnesium, sulfur and micronutrients, such as copper and zinc. The phosphorus content, as well as the calcium, magnesium and micronutrients, come from renewable sources only. Our new fertilizer formulas allow agricultural producers to comply with the applicable environmental regulations and requirements. Fosfarm fertilizers facilitate the uptake of phosphorus by plants, stimulating the synergism of elements. The phosphorus contained in the fertilizers is soluble in ammonium citrate and water (one-quarter of the phosphorus is water soluble). Phosphorus compounds soluble in those two substances show comparable effectiveness regardless of when they are applied, provided they are placed at the correct depth in the soil. Fosfarm makes it possible to obtain optimum and quality crops while reducing pollution and protecting the production potential of the environment.
Marketing urea with urease inhibitor
Since August 1st 2021, the use of traditional urea has been prohibited in Poland. To help food producers adapt to the new regulations, we have placed on the market a urea product with urease inhibitor under the trade name Pulrea + INu. Pulrea +INu increases the uptake of nitrogen from the fertilizer and provides a stable source of nitrogen for plants. The fertilizer does not have to be mixed with soil. The inhibitor in the fertilizer temporarily blocks urease, which is a naturally occurring enzyme that decomposes urea. As a result, the effects of the fertilizer application are prolonged and nitrogen losses caused by volatile ammonia escape are much lower. Rain allows urea to be carried into the soil, where it is decomposed into ammonium cations absorbed by plants. The use of urea with urease inhibitor makes it possible to meet the requirements of the EU NEC Directive for fertilizers, providing for a reduction of ammonia emissions into the atmosphere. What is more, lower ammonia emissions into the atmosphere are one of the challenges of the European Green Deal.
Humic acid line
A pilot line for the production of humic acids, with an annual capacity of 2,500 tonnes of Tohumus (the main product), was launched at the Grupa Azoty S.A. Implementation Centre. The new line was developed through research work carried out at the Grupa Azoty Research and Development Centre in Tarnów. It also marks another step taken by Grupa Azoty in its pursuit of the European Green Deal objectives.
Soils in Poland have a low humus content. Natural factors such as climate, the high share of sandy soils and soil acidification are not conducive to accumulating and retaining a stable content of humic substances – the main components of soil organic matter. To address those challenges, the Grupa Azoty Group is launching a new line of products to introduce humic acids into soil.
The presence of humic acids can stimulate vital processes of soil organisms, support plant growth, and also accelerate decomposition of postharvest leftovers. The introduction of humic compounds into soil increases plant vigour and root growth, which is particularly critical during drought. The introduction of humic compounds into soil is one of the methods to increase production of good quality food while maintaining soil fertility.
Humic acids are produced by the Grupa Azoty Group based on a technology for making growth stimulators from a natural raw material, that is lignite. The process takes place in relatively low temperatures (40–50°C), which do not cause thermal degradation of humic acid chains, thus increasing their efficacy in agricultural applications. The product’s efficacy was evaluated by the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute and by the National Institute of Horticultural Research in Skierniewice, both of which confirmed a significant effect on root-mass growth and increase in crop yields.
The production of humic acids is part of the efforts to ensure a circular flow of raw materials. The production line does not generate any additional waste and the technology itself was fully developed by the Grupa Azoty Group’s in-house team in response to the needs of modern agriculture. The resulting product is 100% bioorganic.
Work on inhibitors
Grupa Azoty Chorzów is currently in the process of applying for a patent for two nitrogen stabilisers for use in nitrogen fertilizers containing amide nitrogen. Azovilen G is based on NBPT as the active substance. The use of Azovilen G reduces urease activity in soil, which prevents excessive transformation of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide, thus reducing their emissions into the atmosphere. This increases the efficacy of nitrogen in the fertilizer and improves crop yields and their quality. Azovilen S will be used as an additive for urea-ammonium nitrate solutions and application over urea.
Granulated fertilizer unit
Grupa Azoty Puławy brought online a granulated fertilizer plant. Apart from the production lines, it includes Poland's most advanced packing and seasoning facilities. The first line was pre-commissioned in July 2020, with continuous fertilizer production launched in 2021. The plant is one of the largest fertilizer projects completed in Poland in recent years, creating new jobs at Grupa Azoty Puławy.
Mechanically granulated ammonium nitrate and calcium ammonium nitrate manufactured at the plant are an answer to the growing demand from large-scale agriculture in Poland and Europe. The application of fertilizers in the form of larger-diameter granules offers a wider spread pattern, which improves sowing efficiency, especially on large farms. They are therefore a product of first choice for foreign customers, and demand for such fertilizers is expected to grow also in the Polish market given the ongoing land consolidation process.
In addition to the production units, the project also involved the construction of infrastructure and logistics facilities for unloading and processing of raw materials, as well as a warehouse for finished products and a packing facility, which was equipped with fully automated machines for packing fertilizers into flexible containers (big bags), the only solution of this type deployed in Poland. Under the operator's supervision, the machines take empty containers, fill them with the product, secure the packaging against spilling, label it and transport it over a line of conveyors to the reception and dispatch point. The capacity of two packing machines is about 180 tonnes per hour (some 4,300 tonnes/day).
Thermoplastic starch production technology
Grupa Azoty S.A. has launched a pilot line for the production of thermoplastic starch, with a capacity of 300 tonnes per year. It has also acceded to cooperation agreements with Polska Grupa Opakowaniowa Opakomet S.A. and the Forestry Research Institute, and signed a letter of intent with the State Forests National Forest Holding. Thermoplastic starch is fully biodegradable and perfectly suitable for producing eco-friendly plant pots, packaging and fertilizers. The polymer is made from potatoes.
Polyamide 6
Polyamide 6 is an engineering plastic used in many sectors of the economy, which substantially improves or reduces human impact on the environment. In the food industry, it is used in the manufacturing of cling film that significantly extends the shelf-life of food, preventing its wastage. In the automotive industry, parts made of polyamide 6 markedly reduce the weight of cars, translating into lower fuel consumption and indirectly protecting the environment. Polyamide 6 is also used in the textile industry as it extends the useful life of clothes and carpets. The Grupa Azoty Group manufactures polyamide 6 according to state-of-the-art technologies developed by leading Western providers, such as Zimmer and Uhde Inventa-Fischer. In recent years, the production technologies have been modernised and their environmental impact has been materially reduced. The consumption of raw materials and energy has also been lowered.
In 2021, we began efforts to obtain the ISCC Plus certificate for our polyamide 6 product. The ISCC Plus standard ensures that raw materials and intermediate production inputs are sourced in a sustainable manner, thus reducing the consumption of fossil resources and increasing the use of renewables. With the ISCC Plus certification, we will be able to offer polyamide 6 to all producers who want to create green, environmentally sustainable products.
ε-caprolactone
In 2021, Grupa Azoty Puławy worked on an innovative technology to obtain ε-calcolactone – a biodegradable monomer for the production of polycaprolactone, which increases the flexibility of plastics. Polycaprolactone is used as a raw material for producing films, fibres, threads, polymeric compositions, etc. It blends easily with many other polymers and is used as a plasticizer that increases the flexibility of plastics and their biodegradability. As such, it can be used to produce single-use biodegradable plates or cups. The application of PCL is particularly important in medicine, where it is used to make special degradable biomaterial implants, coatings in capsules of sustained release drugs, bioresorbable surgical threads, or as a component of resins for root canal filling.
The complete technology for obtaining ε-calcolactone was tested on a prototype pilot unit. Industrial research confirmed the possibility of using the intermediate products made by the company, the optimum process parameters were established and the first product was obtained. The innovative ε-calcolactone technology developed as part of the project is covered by patent protection. The project received funding from the National Centre for Research and Development.
NOX
To bring down environmental pollution, the European Union has set requirements for exhaust gas emissions from heavy and light goods vehicles powered by diesel engines. One of the methods used by car makers to ensure compliance with the EU requirements is SCR (selective catalytic reduction), which chemically reduces NOx emissions by using an additive (urea) in the exhaust system of engines, i.e. AdBlue® (NOXy® manufactured by the Grupa Azoty Group) with an appropriate content of urea. Using the liquid with an appropriate content of urea is crucial to maintaining the efficiency and ensuring proper operation of the system. In 2021, we continued research with a view to developing the NOXy product line and supplementing our NOXy offering with additives that would enable:
- higher NOx emissions reduction compared with the traditional AdBlue,
- higher particle number reduction compared with the traditional AdBlue,
- reduction of carbon dioxide emissions,
- reduction of fuel consumption,
- extension of the useful life of SCR catalyst.
As the research results show that the objectives for the new product have been achieved, Grupa Azoty is working to start its mass production and sales.
NovaTec
We have added to our product range the NovaTec nitrogen stabilizer and granulated nitrogen fertilizer. They temporarily block the activity of Nitrosomonas bacteria by interrupting the nitrification process for up to three months. The slowing down of nitrogen release triggers a number of positive effects for both plants and the natural environment:
- significant reduction of nitrogen leaching,
- ensuring stable supply of nitrogen to crop plants,
- high efficiency even in light soils,
- reducing the number of runs on the field,
- improving crop yields and quality.
We want to achieve the highest standards of circular economy. We are aware of the need to reduce the consumption of raw materials, recover materials and recycle waste, and to develop biodegradable plastics. The Grupa Azoty Group is able to meet the increasingly stringent EU regulations, which point to the need to transform the economy towards the circular model to the widest extent possible.
We want our new products to contribute to economic growth while protecting natural resources and preserving the balance of agroecosystems globally. We focus on rational and efficient use of fertilizer nutrients, which means that we can ensure optimum crop yields of desired quality while reducing pollution and protecting the production potential of the environment.
An example of products consistent with the idea of circular economy is the Fosfarm line of fertilizers. They are enriched with calcium, magnesium, sulfur and micronutrients, such as copper and zinc. The phosphorus content, as well as the calcium, magnesium and micronutrients, all come from renewable sources only, including sewage sludge incineration ash.
Manufacture
The formula of Fosfarm fertilizers has been designed to minimise the use of the product and maximise its effectiveness. They are enriched with calcium, magnesium, sulfur and micronutrients, that is copper and zinc, which significantly contribute to improving soil quality. Fosfarm fertilizers contain ammoniacal nitrogen, magnesium and sulfur as components facilitating absorption of phosphorus by plants, i.e. stimulating what is called synergism between elements. The phosphorus contained in the fertilizers is soluble in ammonium citrate and water (one-fourth of the phosphorus is water soluble). Phosphorus compounds soluble in those two substances show comparable effectiveness regardless of when they are applied, provided they are placed at the correct depth in the soil.
Consumption
The efficiency of the product also depends on how it is used. We therefore provide our customers with leaflets containing information about how and when to use Fosfarm fertilizers in the best possible way. The leaflets contain advice on the optimum doses of the product, and show the periods that are critical to plant growth (when the product should be used). Those materials also have an added educational value, explaining the source of fertilizer application at a given time of the plant’s life cycle, as well as the expected effect of fertilizer application.
Recycling
Being aware that natural resources are not unlimited, we are attaching more and more importance to using them in a sustainable and responsible manner. A by-product of one process may become the basis for another. With this in mind, we have developed Fosfarm fertilizers. The phosphorus content, as well as the calcium, magnesium and micronutrients, come from regenerative sources only, including sewage sludge incineration ash.
Design
Each component of the product, including its packaging, should be reusable and therefore the packaging of the Fosfarm line has been designed to be recyclable. To facilitate segregation, it has been marked with appropriate signs.
The closed loop in raw materials is also supported by activities of our Plastics segment, which has long used its by-products to make complete products. In 2021, a large-scale project was launched to increase the potential of mechanical recycling of polyamide 6 and add other recycling methods. We want the new method to be based mainly on recycling technologies using plastic waste which will make it possible to add to our portfolio new products containing recycled materials or to recover plastic monomers.
At the Grupa Azoty Group, product safety and quality are strategic priorities. We are well aware of the risks (for both people and the environment) associated with the use of potentially hazardous chemicals. For this reason, we have implemented strict internal regulations and fully comply with the world-class standards for production activities. The underlying legal framework includes the Environmental Protection Law, the Water Law as well as the Waste Acts and other legal regulations on environmental protection, occupational health and safety and fire safety.
Our products are sold to food producers and farmers, meaning that their quality has a direct impact on consumer safety and health. Aware of this responsibility, we have set the following objectives throughout the Group:
- to offer mineral fertilizers supporting efficient and environmentally-friendly crop production to make agriculture profitable and guarantee the supply of affordable food,
- to contribute to the security of food supply, thereby reducing poverty and supporting human development,
- to prevent degradation of soil and restore it to original condition with a view to achieving wider environmental goals, such as prevention of desertification,
- to eliminate (wherever possible) or mitigate the negative environmental impacts of our fertilizers and agricultural production.
At the leading companies, our commitments are enforced under the Food Safety Management Policies in place at each company. In line with the Policies, parameters affecting the quality and safety of products are monitored on an ongoing basis, high standards of hygiene are adhered to at the production, storage and distribution stage, and the infrastructure and manufacturing technologies are constantly upgraded and improved. The Policies also underline the need to raise the awareness of health safety issues among staff and to exchange information internally and externally on the risks to product safety throughout the food chain.
We are responsible for our products along the entire supply chain. As part of Fertilizers Europe, our Group runs the Product Stewardship programme, based on a set of international quality standards and regulations.
All companies of the Grupa Azoty Group are obliged to ensure that their fertilizer products, as well as all raw materials and intermediates used in their production, are processed, transported, stored, distributed and used in a responsible manner, causing no harm to human health and safety or to the natural environment. In 2021, 100% of key product categories across the Group were assessed for potential impact on consumer health and safety and on the natural environment (based on the REACH Regulation1 or other applicable procedures).
1 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency.
In 2021, no incidents of non-compliance with regulations or voluntary codes concerning the health and safety impacts of products and services were identified.
BEST PRACTICE
We use our chemical expertise to improve everyday safety. For many years, we have been conducting research into antimicrobial additives, as well as research designed to develop biocidal and biostatic properties in plastics manufactured by Grupa Azoty. As part of this work, we checked the efficacy of various solutions and additives, and our analyses resulted in developing a special formula to achieve optimal antimicrobial properties without adversely affecting the processing parameters or strength of plastics.
Tarnamid MB AMB developed by Grupa Azoty is an antimicrobial concentrate containing silver, with polyamide 6 produced by the company as its base plastic. The use of Tarnamid MB AMB as an additive to plastics creates antimicrobial properties in products without affecting their existing parameters. Efficacy tests were carried out at specialised external bodies with appropriate authorisations and experience. The use of just 2% of Tarnamid MB AMB in a selected polyamide 6 variety led to a significant decline in bacterial multiplication. In this solution, molecular silver is present throughout the product and on its surface, and the antimicrobial effect is not diminished even if the product’s surface wears out.
Appropriate labelling, instruction manuals and data sheets describing possible effects on living organisms are prepared for all products leaving our plants. The integrated management system implemented at the Group, which includes procedures and instructions for product labelling, protects consumers’ interests, providing assurance about the safety and quality of the goods they purchase. We strive to ensure that packaging labels clearly identify the product and help understand any potential hazards and restrictions on its use. Trade names, manufacturer contact details and product weight are provided on all packaging.
- Substances and mixtures classified as dangerous are subject to the CLP Regulation and the companies’ internal regulations. Hazard warning labels for dangerous substances and mixtures contain key information on the hazardous components, routes of exposure and procedures in case of an accident.
- The labelling requirements for fertilizer products are set out in Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003. In the case of packaged fertilizers, the identification markings are affixed to the packaging or the attached labels. In the case of fertilizers in bulk, such markings are contained in the accompanying documents. In the case of fertilizers, the product information we provide includes fertilizer type, the ‘EC Fertilizer’ designation (if applicable), content and form of nutrients, as well as directions for use and basic safety precautions.
- The labelling requirements for feed additives are set out in Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. We provide information on daily rations and storage life.
Percentage of product and service categories subject to information requirements [%]
| 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN | 63 |
| Grupa Azoty POLICE | 100 |
| Grupa Azoty PUŁAWY | 81.25 |
| Grupa Azoty S.A. | 100 |
No incidents of non-compliance concerning product or service information and marketing communications were identified at the Grupa Azoty Group in 2021.
In 2021, no penalties were imposed on any of our companies for non-compliance with laws and regulations governing the supply and use of products at any stage of their life cycle. No fines or non-monetary sanctions for non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area were imposed on our organisation.
BEST PRACTICE
All Grupa Azoty Group companies complied with the duty to register manufactured substances, and prepared and published appropriate material safety data sheets (or equivalent documents) in accordance with the EU REACH Regulation for all products placed on the market. In 2021, those documents were updated on an ongoing basis, and the process of consolidation of all REACH measures and closer cooperation across the Grupa Azoty Group was continued.
2 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency.
We take care to ensure the safety of our products in transit. When transporting particularly dangerous goods, we apply the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR, L’Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par route). We provide support to our business partners in the event of accidents in transport of hazardous materials. Grupa Azoty S.A., Grupa Azoty Police and Grupa Azoty Puławy have joined the SPOT System of Assistance in Transport of Hazardous Materials, which was established to improve the safety of hazardous materials transport in Poland, and in case of any incidents – to facilitate effective elimination of accident consequences by joint efforts and measures of the national rescue and fire services and the SPOT members.
BEST PRACTICE
All our companies have monitoring systems and safeguards in place and have implemented procedures for accident prevention and mitigation. These procedures include the following:
- preventive plans,
- production process control,
- performance of particularly hazardous work,
- emergency/accident response,
- occupational health and safety monitoring,
- operational control,
- assessment of safety objectives alignment with standards,
- storage.
