Doing Manufacturing
Right

CF’s “Do It Right” culture means making the right choices for our employees, contractors, community and the environment. We are proud to operate some of the cleanest and most energy-efficient nitrogen complexes in the world.

G4-EN3, G4-EN18; UNSDG #7, #9, #12, #13

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This is due in part to our use of natural gas as feedstock, or the raw material used to fuel the chemical reactions, that make our products possible. Manufacturers in China and elsewhere still rely on coal for fuel, which pollutes the air and emits more than twice as much carbon dioxide as natural gas during combustion.

Natural gas, in contrast, is the cleanest feedstock available for producing nitrogen fertilizer. North America is home to one of the largest and most secure reserves of natural gas in the world. With this resource close at hand, we can provide an efficient supply that North American farmers can count on.

A Model for
Plant Efficiency

Our Courtright Nitrogen Complex in Ontario is a perfect example of how we’ve combined new technologies, improved practices and environmental stewardship to make a difference. Ontario’s only fertilizer manufacturing operation, Courtright is a global leader in nitrogen plant efficiency, performing over 10 percent better than the Canadian average. The plant captures CO2 both for reintegration into its urea manufacturing process and for sale to other entities, and recycles methane that would otherwise be flared for fuel. In addition, CF has redeveloped over 60 acres of nearby land to serve as a carbon sink. Together, these activities help reduce the amount of CO2 vented to the atmosphere by more than 200,000 metric tonnes every year.

CF also stands out for our smart investments in state-of-the-art technologies, including both additions to new plants and upgrades to our established plants and distribution facilities. For example, our newly built ammonia plant in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, is 10 percent more efficient than the industry benchmark. At our distribution center in the Port Neal Nitrogen Complex, a new self-service application developed by CF’s own software engineers allows drivers to load products into trucks more safely and within weight requirements. This innovation has cut load times in half and reduced engine idling time.

CF has also been an early adopter of safe, energy-efficient and cost-effective manufacturing processes, which strengthen our competitiveness within an energy-intensive, trade-exposed sector, while demonstrating our commitment to environmental stewardship. We’ve made voluntary investments, for example, in carbon capture and nitrous oxide abatement technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Staying Accountable for our Commitments

Since 2012, our U.K. operations have disclosed the carbon footprints of all of our fertilizers. In 2016, we worked with the U.K. government and the Carbon Trust to recertify all products to the rigorous Publicly Available Standard 2050 (PAS 2050). Certification ensures maximum credibility of our carbon footprints – and increases transparency as we continually seek to lessen our impact.

CO2e Emissions
Per Product Tonne

 

Natural Gas Intensity
in Production

(Million MMBtus/Nutrient Tonne)

CO2 Capture in
Urea Production

(Million Metric Tonnes)