Driving down our Scope 3 footprint at our European rare earths plant
The salty air of La Rochelle, France has always smelled of progress. Recently, there is a new scent: sustainability in action. This is about clever collaboration making tangible waves for a greener tomorrow, right here at our plant.
We had to solve the problem of getting our essential products to the port by truck. This affects our scope 3 emissions. Since rail and barge options were not available, our procurement and local La Rochelle team focused on road transport. What if we could fuel those trucks differently?
We teamed up with our trusted shipping partner, Ocean Network Express (ONE) to find a solution. We looked into sustainable trucking, and biofuels became our top choice.
It wasn't just a quick idea. Our teams worked hard, exploring the options with real Solvay determination. They knew this could help with a larger goal.
The result? We successfully switched to biodiesel for many of our container transport trucks, using Oleo100 fuel which is made from 100% French rapeseed residue. This change cuts CO2 emissions by 51 tonnes each year. It also lowered our scope 3 carbon footprint for outbound logistics from the La Rochelle site, and improved air quality.
At Ocean Network Express, we are committed to working alongside our partners to explore innovative solutions for sustainable logistics. This project in La Rochelle is a prime example of how collaboration and the adoption of biofuels can significantly reduce our environmental impact and drive positive change within the shipping industry.
This local project is not just a win for La Rochelle. Also, a step forward in Solvay's promise to lower its emissions across the value chain. Every smart, sustainable solution like this one contributes to a lower carbon footprint of Solvay’s products.
"This project in La Rochelle is a great demonstration of how we can reduce our indirect emissions in a competitive way for Solvay and our customers. We can do this through strong partnerships and creative ideas," says Andrea Bory, Solvay VP Supply Chain. "Reducing our scope 3 emissions is crucial for Solvay and seeing our teams finding effective solutions is inspiring. This is one of many examples of how local creativity, supported by partnerships, helps Solvay's sustainability goals. Finding smart, authentic ways to lessen our environmental impact across our entire value chain is important."
