Stepan is committed to operating in a safe and sustainable manner, and to consistently working to reduce our environmental footprint. The company strives to manufacture chemicals in a way that will minimize the materials taken from and the wastes returned to the environment, as well as to reduce the amount of energy used in operations. Stepan will work closely with customers and supply partners to maintain and further our continuous commitment to sustainability.
In order to effectively reduce our global impact, the Company will measure and track:
- Water consumption in our processes and products
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- Energy consumption
Our Commitment to Successful and Ongoing Impact Reduction
The initial focus of Stepan’s sustainability program in this area has been energy-efficiency improvements, water-use reduction and recovery, and waste elimination.
The Company’s Illinois warehouse was designed utilizing the latest industrial building efficiency systems, including a roof insulation containing a Stepan polyol and occupant-sensitive lighting and temperature controls.
Innovative programs were implemented that added the necessary systems and controls for condensate recovery and wash water reuse. At several sites, waste reduction initiatives, including process control strategy changes and improved processing equipment, resulted in a 24% decline in Stepan’s North American process-generated waste streams since 2005.
In 2010, more than $7 million was invested in energy reduction projects, including installation of a modern, high-efficiency steam boiler and the upgrading of large process air blowers in our phthalic anhydride production unit in Elwood, Illinois. These combined efforts will reduce energy usage by more than 14 million kilowatts annually.