Major Humber employer INEOS has wrapped up a substantial £30m investment at its Hull manufacturing plant as part of efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
The Saltend INEOS Acetyls facility stands as a global powerhouse in acetic acid production and Europe's largest manufacturer in this sector, with recent years witnessing the chemicals giant's drive to slash carbon emissions.
The company has been transforming the plant to operate on clean-burning hydrogen rather than natural gas following the multimillion-pound injection, delivering a 75% reduction in carbon emissions – equivalent to removing approximately 160,000 petrol vehicles from Britain's roads.
Chief Executive David Brooks described the investment as a monumental leap towards INEOS' net zero pledge, well in advance of the Government's º£½ÇÊÓƵ net zero deadline of 2050.
He emphasised that the business, which supports 500 employees globally including 300 in Hull, whilst backing hundreds more through its supply network, stands as Europe's sole industrial-scale producer of acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and ethyl acetate, reports . These products represent vital chemicals integral to daily life, spanning from pharmaceuticals to water treatment.
Mr Brooks said: "We've put £30 million into Hull to do the right thing – cut emissions, clean up the site, and future proof our operations. We've slashed CO2 by 75%. That's not a plan. That's a result.
"Like most chemical businesses in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, we are working hard to compete in global markets while facing some of the highest energy and carbon costs in the world. This investment is another step in our plans to supply the º£½ÇÊÓƵ and European markets with highly reliable and low carbon products."
The firm has announced that the investment will significantly enhance the site's product carbon footprint.
INEOS points out that the hydrogen utilised at the facility is generated as a by-product from its current manufacturing operations, showcasing an intelligent and efficient use of resources – a strategy they believe is replicable industry-wide. The Hull site's upgrade forms part of INEOS's broader decarbonisation efforts, which include significant projects at Grangemouth and Köln locations.
Mr Brooks declared: "We're not waiting for 2050. We're doing it now."
