KPIs, Trends & Insights
ICL aspires for best practices in the management of all ESG components. Following are the main sustainability quantitative KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) from recent years, and related trend analysis.
Governance
(see further details here)
- ICL adopts best practices and advanced management techniques for Corporate Governance. Among else, the company values the importance of gender diversity and adequate representation within the Board of Directors. Accordingly, the Company will strive to increase gender diversity of the Board.
| Board & Governance Information | |
|---|---|
| Total Number of Directors | 10 |
| Number of Non-Executive Directors on Board | 10 |
| Number of External Directors* | 2 |
| Number of Independent Directors** | 4 |
| Separate Chair and CEO | Yes |
| Board Meetings Held in 2019 | 16 |
| Annual Election of Directors | Yes |
| Average Age of Directors | 59 |
| Women Board Members*** | 20% |
* The definition of “external directors” is pursuant to the Israeli Companies Law, 5759-1999 (the “Companies Law”).
** Five directors are independent directors under the rules applicable to U.S.A companies listed on the NYSE. Four are independent according to Israeli regulations.
*** Since January 2020, the ICL Board of Directors has 10 members, two women and 8 men. Throughout 2019, however, the Board included one woman.
Economic Performance
(see further details here)
- Acquisitions/Divestments: In 2016, the data from ICL China YPH JV was integrated into the report. YPH JV is a major facility and its inclusion in the report has had major impacts on various indicators. Other sites purchased/sold since 2008 usually only had minor influences on ICL’s overall sustainability KPIs.
| units | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | $ millions | 5,418 | 5,556 | 5,271 |
| Operating Income (loss) | $ millions | 629 | 1,519 | 756 |
| Employees* | # | 12,660 | 12,125 | 12,117 |
| Employees unionized | % | 75% | 70% | 68% |
* Employee numbers in the table above include some long-term contract workers and student employees.
Environmental Performance
(see further details here)
- The increase in Environmental investments in 2018-19 was mostly related to the significant investments ($37 Million in 2019) in new equipment and upgrades in ICL Israel production sites, to comply with the requirements of the Clean Air Law.
| units | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Protection Spending | Investments | $ millions | 33.9 | 43.8 | 51.1 |
| Expenditures | $ millions | 51.9 | 67.2 | 62.3 | |
| Certification | ISO 14001 or an eqv. standard for environmental management | % of production sites certified | 89% | 91% | 93% |
| ISO 50001 or an eqv. standard for energy | % of production sites certified | 32% | 32% | 35% |
Energy
(see full analysis here)
- 2019 was the first full year of operation of the new, highly-efficient Sdom CHP (combined heat and power) plant. The new plant is supplying most of the electricity demand for all ICL’s Israeli sites, and thus replacing most previously externally purchased electricity for ICL Israel. A significant amount of electricity from the new plant is also sold by ICL to external customers. The plant also supplies the various ICL Sdom facilities with all needed steam.
- ICL’s total (direct + indirect) energy consumption in 2019 increased by 15% compared to 2018, and by 18% compared to 2017 (before the new power plant). The increase in the overall energy figures, which combines both fuels and electricity, is an unavoidable consequence of the major transition to self-electricity generation. Despite the fact that ICL sites consumed very similar amounts of electricity overall- the 2018-9 figures now include the increased consumed natural gas ‘gross’ amounts, replacing some of the 2017 ‘net’ electricity amounts. Despite the very high efficiency of ICL’s new plant, not all natural gas is converted to consumed electricity and steam, and the 2018-9 energy figures now include these unavoidable conversion losses. In a broader perspective, the new power plant allows for a reduction of the overall energy-related environmental impact in the state of Israel, including NOx, GHG and other emissions.
- In 2019, and following the near-completion of a major transition to natural gas (NG) in ICL Israel sites, 90% of the total remote fuel consumption of ICL Global facilities was derived from NG (compared to only 26% in 2008, pre-transition).
| units | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total energy use | GJ (millions) | 30.8 | 34.9 | 36.5 |
| Direct | GJ (millions) | 23 | 28.5 | 31.1 |
| Indirect | GJ (millions) | 7.9 | 6.4 | 5.4 |
| Electricity | GJ (millions) | 7.2 | 5.7 | 4.2 |
| Natural Gas | GJ (millions) | 19.8 | 25.8 | 29.8 |
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(see full analysis here)
- By 2019, ICL’s Global GHG emissions were reduced by 24% compared with 2008 base year emissions. Total emissions were reduced by 4% in 2019 compared to 2018.
- The reduction in 2019 mostly resulted from a decrease in Scope 2 in ICL Europe sites. Some of this decrease was the result of the company’s initiative to purchase 100% renewable electricity for several ICL sites.
- As explained above, the new highly efficient Sdom power plant has been supplying almost all of ICL Israel electricity consumption since August 2018. 2019 was the first full year of operation of the new plant. This electricity is much lower in carbon intensity, compared with the previously used external electricity, allowing for significantly decreased Scope 2 emissions. However, Scope 1 emissions now include more losses from the increased natural gas combustion in the new plant (some losses always exist, despite the highly efficient process). Also, a significant amount of electricity from the new plant is also sold by ICL to external customers. Overall, the total GHG emissions, in ICL Israel specifically, have increased by ~80k tonnes CO2e in 2019, compared with 2017. However, the electricity produced by ICL to external customers replaces the generation of more carbon-intensive electricity by less efficient power plants. The company estimates saving ~190k tonnes CO2e of avoided emissions for the external customers.
| units | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total GHG Emissions 1+2+3 | CO2e tonnes (thousands) | 3,162 | 3,323 | 3,194 |
| Scope 1 | CO2e tonnes (thousands) | 1,932 | 2,278 | 2,496 |
| Scope 2 (market based) | CO2e tonnes (thousands) | 1,140 | 952 | 612 |
| Scope 3 | CO2e tonnes (thousands) | 90 | 93 | 86 |
Air Emissions
(see full analysis here)
- Since 2008, ICL has lowered SOx emissions by 68%; NOx emissions by 87% and PM emissions by 78%. The transition to natural gas use at ICL Israel has significantly contributed to all these reductions.
- SOx emissions are heavily dependent on the operations of the sulphuric acid production plants in ICL Rotem. In 2019, ICL’s global SOx emissions were reduced by 26% VS 2018, and by 45% VS 2017. These significant reductions are almost completely attributed to the installation of new, advanced and improved catalysts in both Rotem sulphuric acid production plants (Plant 10 in 2018, Plant 11 in 2019).
- NOx emissions were reduced by 5% in 2019 VS 2018, and by 24% VS 2017. The two-year reduction was mostly caused due to the installation of a new highly efficient boiler, in the new Sdom power plant.
- However, the new power plant also has caused an unavoidable increase in VOC emissions (+29% in 2019 VS 2017), due to the large increase in natural gas consumption. The 2018 VOC emissions were still 3% lower than in the 2008 base year, and are generally very low compared with other air emissions described in this report.
- PM emissions were reduced by 37% in 2019 VS 2018. Most of this reduction is attributed to a significant reduction in PM emission from the ICL Rotem phosphate fertilizers facility.
- ICL’s global emissions of Ammonia were reduced by 63% in 2019 VS 2018, mostly due to significantly reduced emissions in ICL China YPH.
| units | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOx | tonnes (thousands) | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| SOx | tonnes (thousands) | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| PM | tonnes (thousands) | 1 | 0.96 | 0.6 |
| NH3 | tonnes (thousands) | 0.021 | 0.087 | 0.032 |
| VOC | tonnes (thousands) | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.07 |
Water & Wastewater
(see full analysis here)
- ICL expects its water consumption to increase somewhat in the next few years, as major production facilities place new air emission filters and scrubbers that require water as part of their standard operation.
- The total global ICL wastewater output decreased by 5% in 2019 VS 2018. ICL Rotem Zin had a significant reduction in its activity in 2019, resulting in less wastewater output. ICL Iberia Suria also had decreased its wastewater outputs.
| units | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total water use | m3 (millions) | 70.9 | 72.1 | 71.9 |
| Potable | m3 (millions) | 20.2 | 19.2 | 18.5 |
| Non-potable | m3 (millions) | 50.7 | 53 | 53.4 |
| Grid (Municipal) water use | m3 (millions) | 18.6 | 17.4 | 16.7 |
| Wastewater discharge | m3 (millions) | 24.4 | 24.4 | 23.2 |
Waste
(see full analysis here)
- Non-Hazardous waste: There are no clear trends with regards to the amount of waste produced in ICL’s plants. Amounts can vary greatly from year to year. The main reasons are the large amounts of wastes usually created in one-time construction/renovation projects, and certain wastes types which are accumulated in storage ponds, or areas, for several years before being transferred to treatment by external professional companies. Non-haz waste quantities remained almost identical (+0.8%) in 2019 VS 2018.
- Hazardous waste: These quantities can also significantly fluctuate between years, since certain waste types are accumulated for several years before being transferred to treatment by external professional companies. The overall ICL hazardous waste quantities increased by 10% in 2019 VS. 2018, as large amounts of hazardous wastes, accumulated over several years, were sent to treatment by ICL Neot-Hovav and ICL Rotem.
| units | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Waste | tonnes (thousands) | 70.7 | 61.8 | 65.4 |
| Total Haz Waste | tonnes (thousands) | 25.7 | 25.8 | 28.4 |
| Total Non-Haz waste | tonnes (thousands) | 45 | 36 | 37 |
| Recycling Rate - Haz | % | 26% | 30% | 25% |
| Landfill Rate - Haz | % | 67% | 62% | 66% |
| Recycling Rate - Non Haz | % | 47% | 48% | 48% |
| Landfill Rate - Non Haz | % | 52% | 51% | 49% |
Health & Safety
(see further details here)
- The total number of safety accidents decreased by 36% between 2018 and 2019, for both company employees (-34%) and contractor employees (-39%). The ICL Global IR rate was reduced by 33% in 2019 VS 2018. Moreover, company employees absent days also significantly decreased, resulting in a 31% decrease in the SI rate. The company considers these achievements a result of its enhanced safety practices and proactive culture, undertaken in 2019. These included implementing ICL’s 5 safety principles, conducting wide-scale process risk assessments (PSAs), implementing contractor safety audits, and other improvements.
- Despite ICL’s continued efforts to reduce work accidents at its sites, in September 2019 a fatal accident occurred involving a contractor worker at ICL China Shanghai Tari (STI).See details and actions taken following this event here.
| units | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OHSAS 18001/ISO 45001 or eqv. standard for safety | % of production sites certified | 89% | 89% | 91% |
| Rate of work accidents (IR Rate) | 0.82 | 0.73 | 0.49 | |
| Rate of lost workdays (SI Rate) | 25.6 | 28.6 | 19.7 | |
| Company Employees Accidents | # | 87 | 76 | 50 |
| Contractor Employees Accidents | # | 24 | 43 | 26 |
| Fatalities Company Employees | # | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fatalities Contractor Employees | # | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Community Engagement
(see further details here)
- Monetary donations have slightly decreased in 2019 (-6%), while monetary equivalent donations have increased- mostly due to a significant increase in work-time volunteering activities by employees. The overall donations (monetary + equivalent) have therefore increased by 2%. The donations relative to income-before-tax decreased by 12%, mostly due to the significant increase in ICL pre-tax income in 2019 VS. 2018 (excluding the 2018 one-time divestments of business assets).
- ICL held its first Global Volunteer Week in 2019. The company considers this first-time initiative as highly successful. Among else, this week caused a leap in volunteering rates (see table below). The rates were increased both through the week’s comprehensive activities, and through the increased interest of ICL employees in continuous organized volunteering after its conclusion.
| Category | units | 2018 | 2019 | Change 2018-19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monetary Donations (Global) | $ millions | 7.9 | 7.4 | -6% |
| Monetary eqv. (donated equipment) | $ millions | 0.2 | 0.5 | 150% |
| Monetary eqv. (work-time organized employee volunteer hours) | $ millions | 0.3 | 0.8 | 166% |
| Total Donations (Monetary+eqv.) | $ millions | 8.4 | 8.6 | 2% |
| Adjusted Income before tax * | $ millions | 523 | 628 | 20% |
| Total Donation of income before tax | % | 1.56% | 1.37% | -12% |
* Note: the 2018 income before tax does not include the one-time divestment of business assets. These one time-sales/acquisitions are not factored into ICL’s planned community investment budget planning.
12.6
Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability into their reporting cycle.
Sustainability Reporting Disclosures:
Disclosure: 103-3
Disclosure: 102-15
Disclosure: 305-1
Disclosure: 305-7
