Carbon footprinting in the fertilizer industry as an essential part of managing climate change

The EU has the ambition to lead by example in meeting the targets set in the Paris Agreement and to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Carbon accounting is key to advance these ambitions. A famous business aphorism explains it rather well: what gets measured gets managed. While measuring GHG emissions alone cannot save the planet, it is undoubtedly an essential part of managing climate change.

International Fertilizer Association estimates that fertilizer industry represents 2.5% of the global GHG emissions, including 1.5% related to fertilizer use (IFA, 2016). The production of nitrogen fertilizers is characterised by high carbon-intensity due to its use of fossil fuels, mainly natural gas, as fuel and feedstock, whereas GHG emissions related to fertilizer use are mainly nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions due to the soil effects of fertilization.

Commissioned by Fertilizers Europe, the European mineral fertilizer manufacturers’ association, the Carbon Footprint Calculator was first developed in 2014 and serves as a tool for assessing direct and indirect GHG emissions related to the production of selected fertilizer products. It follows the “cradle to gate” approach where emissions associated with all stages of the product life are taken into account, from the raw material extraction, energy supply, the manufacturing process to the product storage at the production site[1]. The tool is available for free at: http://www.calcfert.com/account/login/?next=/

The tool calculates GHG emissions for selected fertilizers based on production parameters for ammonia and nitric acid. These values can subsequently be used in calculating emission factors required in the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) calculators for the products in the broader agri-food chain, such as the Cool Farm Tool.

The Carbon Footprint Calculator facilitates companies’ internal and external carbon accounting, e.g. for legal or corporate social responsibility (CSR) purposes. In the case of external reporting, an independent auditor is required to verify the data used as input in the calculator[1].

The ability to assess and monitor emissions is key to identify the most effective abatement strategies, set the reduction targets and communicate the results. It could also be used to establish the cost of carbon emissions associated with products, services, etc. in future carbon pricing mechanisms.