Sustainability Index for Product Development
Manufacturing products with a maximum positive impact and minimum negative impact throughout their life cycle, requires optimum product planning from the development stage.
ICL combines environmental, health and safety criteria with commercial and operational considerations when developing new products. These criteria form the basis of the ICL Sustainability Index, in which each proposed product is assessed and graded during the development process according to defined parameters. All products under development are tested comprehensively and rigorously to specify their properties. The products are characterized by the degree of potential hazard to humans and potential impact on the environment.
ICL develops sustainable products according to the index criteria which are applied in work procedures and plans. R&D for the development of products is carried out according to the main criteria set out below.
The criteria are embedded in existing product development procedures. For this purpose, a quantitative model has been developed: The Sustainability Index for products in development. The purpose of the index is to set parameters for a sustainable product in the development stages.
The sustainability index methodology is implemented in ICL R&D units of the Industrial Products division, the Phosphate specialty and Specialty Fertilizer business units - each with their specific variations to match the different product types.
A standard rating system was defined for all products. The rating for each product is examined in the development process according to defined parameters. Based on the rating results, changes are incorporated into the development process. The parameters selected for the sustainability index include aspects throughout the product life cycle. The objective is to develop the most sustainable products for the specific intended use.
Products that meet one of the categories defined as “no go” are stopped at the development stage and are not commercialized.
