German speciality chemicals company, Lanxess, recently received the ‘National Green Plant’ certificate for its plant in Ningbo from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of China. The Ningbo plant is located in Ningbo Petrochemical Economic & Technology Development zone (NPETD), a national level chemical park is ranked in the top 3 in China.
The ‘National Green Plant’ certificate is a key element of China’s green manufacturing system, which aims to accelerate industrial development while maintaining high environmental standards. This quality seal is awarded to just one thousand best-in-class companies who have demonstrated a clear commitment to sustainability in their respective industries by implementing cutting-edge technology and environmentally friendly practices in their production facilities. In addition to an enhanced reputation, the benefits for holders of a ‘National Green Plant’ certificate include simplified lending and approval for new projects as well as fewer official inspections.
“Our plant in Ningbo sets a benchmark for the entire sector and achieved outstanding values, particularly with its low emissions and energy consumption per ton of product,” observed Mr. Holger Hüppeler, head of the inorganic pigments business unit at Lanxess.
Lanxess said the production process at the Ningbo plant is based on patented technology and ensures the most environmentally-sound production of synthetic yellow-shade red iron oxides in Asia. Compared to traditional production methods, this process produces significantly less nitrogen oxide, including extremely harmful laughing gas. Furthermore, the remaining greenhouse gas emissions are fully purified by post-treatment equipment.
“We are the first and only global iron oxide manufacturer to date to receive National Green Plant certification. This puts us ahead of our competitors, as other companies will need to redesign their facilities or processes with regard to sustainability and enhanced environmental protection measures if they want to succeed in China over the long term,” added Mr. Hüppeler.
