2022 Sasol Sustainability Report - Book - Page 24
SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE AGAINST OUR FOCUS AREAS
INTRODUCTION
DATA AND ASSURANCE
SAFE AND ENDURING OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
Product Stewardship
We work diligently to continuously improve the SHE impacts of our products, as well
as manage security throughout the product life cycle, in partnership with suppliers,
customers and other stakeholders.
• ISO 14001 certification maintained for all production sites in Eurasia.
• Every chemical we produce (experimental and commercial) undergoes hazard
and risk assessment.
• GHS Compliant Product Safety Data Sheets are provided for all products.
OUR APPROACH
SASOL POSITION ON USE OF METHANOL IN NON-INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
• In order to meet the needs of customers today and into the future, we build trust in the Sasol brand
by demonstrating our commitment to product stewardship along the value chain, which also limits
our product risk and liability.
During a recent Sasol Chemicals portfolio review of the SHE aspects including associated measures to improve the
safety of its products, a potential concern was identified with the use of methanol in non-industrial applications
due to a higher potential for improper use and disregard of methanol’s hazards. Given the lack of legislative
instruments pertaining to methanol’s use in such applications, we decided to be proactive and discourage the
use of methanol in non-industrial applications through the development of a formal Sasol Chemicals position.
The decision included active engagement with methanol customers (and the signing of a declaration to confirm
that methanol purchased from Sasol Chemicals will not be used in non-industrial applications) and further
knowledge-sharing sessions with the broader industry through the Chemicals Allied Industry Association (CAIA).
• We have a team of global technical experts with a sound understanding of the hazards, risks and
regulatory requirements driving continuous improvements to prevent product-related incidents
and limit health and environmental exposure.
• Product stewardship involves conscientious engagement of partners and stakeholders along the
value chain. Through our collaborative approach we promote the safe and responsible storage, use,
conversion and end-of-life management of our products.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
DESIGNING SAFE PRODUCTS
Sustainable products make a net positive contribution
to society in their particular applications and intended
uses while minimising harm to human health and the
environment. To establish which products are
sustainable requires a holistic assessment of their
impacts and benefits along the product life cycle.
A product classified as hazardous, when responsibly
managed, can be of significant value to society. Sasol
supports the responsible management of all materials
and chemicals across the life cycle, regardless of their
hazard classification. This approach means that a
sound understanding of product chemistry, hazard
profiles and potential exposure to people and the
environment is required to establish whether a
product is suitable and safe for use in its applications.
Our ongoing portfolio review process is fundamental
to ensuring that Sasol offers the market a safe and
competitive product portfolio for today and the
future. Regulatory scanning, screening of peerreviewed scientific research on chemical safety, and
product development work occur on a continuous
basis to ensure that any anticipated changes in legal
requirements that impact our products are known and
addressed in advance of formal regulatory changes
being adopted. As a result of this, while Sasol has six
products listed on the European Union’s Registration,
Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
regulation (REACH) substances of very high concern
candidate list, we have no products on the REACH
Authorisation list, since we had made chemical
substitutions in advance of these developments.
We also do not have any materials present in our
value chain relating to multilateral environmental
agreements on chemicals under the Montreal Protocol
or the Stockholm Convention. One product may require
Prior Informed Consent under the domesticated
Rotterdam Convention once promulgated and the
international shipment of some low-volume spent
catalyst material, classified as hazardous waste, is
managed under the Basel Convention with all required
permits in place, and is necessary to enable catalyst
regeneration including precious metal recovery.
One Sasol product is certified under the voluntary
International Cyanide Management Code.
OPTIMISATION OF ANTI-STATIC ADDITIVES IN IMPACT COPOLYMER (ICP) GRADE
Sasol polypropylene ICP grades contain an anti-static additive that has a historical Category 2 Reprotoxic Toxicity
classification according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
16 December 2008. The European Chemicals Agency, based on new scientific evidence, agreed on an official
harmonised classification resulting in this anti-static additive classification changing to a Category 1b reprotoxin.
To address this change, Sasol performed the necessary technical work on the product formulation to optimise
the additive target level to a reduced value resulting in Sasol ICP grades retaining the “inherently non toxic and
non hazardous” classification without compromising the technical performance of the final product. While the
current formulation is compliant, Sasol is proactively pursuing substitution opportunities to further enhance
the inherent safety of the Sasol ICP grades.
RISK MANAGEMENT
As part of establishing a baseline for Product Stewardship performance, we continue to report and investigate
all Product Stewardship incidents. The process of clearly defining and identifying critical controls from risk
bowties including the implementation thereof through performance criteria was further refined during the year.
This in turn provided the opportunity to improve the overall risk process, thereby enhancing prevention or
mitigation of similar and related potential future incidents. During 2022, two product stewardship incidents
were experienced which were classified under the key undesirable event: Loss of Product Data Integrity and
or Availability. Although both incidents were classified as minor they were investigated, root cause analysis
undertaken, various actions identified and implemented to address control failures. A key part of the incident
investigation process was also the sharing of learnings with the broader affected Sasol community.
THREE SASOL PLANTS BECAME ISCC PLUS CERTIFIED
International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS supports the circular economy and bioeconomy
by offering a certification that promotes environmentally, socially and economically sustainable production.
Our German sites in Brunsbüttel and Marl and our plant in Augusta, Italy have been ISCC PLUS certified to use
bio-based and circular feedstocks on a mass balance basis to replace fossil-based feedstocks. This marks a step
in Sasol’s global strategy to close the loop and expand our capabilities for circularity using advanced recycling
and bio-based feedstock.
SASOL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2022
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