LANXESS saves 50% of water consumption in Brazil with retro-washing project

PR Log (Press Release) – Mar 25, 2009 – Singapore - German specialty chemicals company LANXESS has saved approximately 50% a year in water consumption through a retro-washing project at its manufacturing unit in Porto Feliz, Brazil, where iron oxide inorganic pigments are produced and marketed under the brand names Bayferrox® and Xadrez®. The retro-washing project was established in 2004.

Data show an annual reduction comparable to the consumption of almost 12,000 households in the city of Porto Feliz.

The water re-use system in the plant shows that by efficiently managing scarce resources, it has been possible to achieve outstanding results. These include the reduction of waste, raw materials and energy, as well as an indirect reduction of the greenhouse effect. For example, the amount of waste has been reduced by around 40%. Moreover, the quality of the products, and therefore their competitiveness, have increased.

Retro-washing
In order to improve quality and consequently reduce the consumption of water used in production, the retro-washing process is a set of measures applied in iron oxide inorganic pigment production, from the moment water is collected from the Tietê river to the stage when, after being used in the production process, it is treated once again and returned to the river, following strict parameters. Basically the whole water collection and treatment has been reviewed in detail and made more efficient.

“LANXESS values responsible operations where actions are not only profitable for the company, but also for the community in the surroundings of the units, as well as our partners, clients, suppliers and employees. The continuous development of processes is key to assuring the company’s competitiveness and shows its commitment to the regions where we operate. As current reality has proven, it is a duty to operate sustainably, integrating the economy, the environment, and social competency”, states Robert Madersdorfer, manager at the Porto Feliz plant.

Porto Feliz
The Porto Feliz plant has a production capacity of about 38,000 tons a year of pigments based on iron oxide and exports about 50% of this total to North America, Latin America and Europe. The Brazilian site is one of LANXESS’s largest producers of pigments based on iron oxide and one the Inorganic Pigment business unit’s main plants.

Covering around 572,000 m², the unit employs approximately 300 people. In the region the company is considered to be one of the leading employers, actively participating in the city’s life and contributing to the development of the municipality.

LANXESS is a leader in specialty chemicals with sales in 2008 of EUR 6.58 billion and currently around 14,800 employees in 21 countries. The company has operations at 44 sites worldwide. LANXESS’s core business comprises the development, manufacture and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. More information at http://www.lanxessgoesasia.com