Today was our sixth day in Netherlands, and our last day in Amsterdam. I woke up at around 8 AM, and I started my morning off with a cappuccino, some mini pancakes, peach yogurt, a boiled egg, and some sliced meats. I then finished some last-minute packing, and I checked out of my hotel. After that we boarded a bus to Nouryon, and we arrived about 90 minutes later. During the ride I was impressed with the number of solar panels and wind turbines along the highway.
When we arrived at Nouryon we checked in and began learning about the company. We visited the headquarters of their polymer specialties division, which ties into products like PVC, acrylic resin, composite materials, and rubber goods. Nouryon is a large chemical company, and they have about $5 billion in yearly revenue. They operate in 80 countries, and they have over 8,000 employees. Nouryon places a lot of emphasis on sustainability, and throughout our visit it was clear that they meant it. By 2030 they want to use 100% clean energy and produce 40% less greenhouse gas emissions, and other sustainability ideas are woven throughout their processes.
First, I learned about their early warning system. This system is used to identify chemicals that are dangerous to people or the environment, and replace them with safer and sustainable options. I liked to see this proactive approach, rather than making changes only after new government regulation. After learning about the company, we got to tour some of their laboratories. First, we toured their safety laboratory, which is used to evaluate the safety factor of their chemical manufacturing and transportation. Then, we toured their toxicology and biodegradation labs. These labs use algae, crustaceans, and microorganisms to evaluate the impact their products have on the environment. This demonstrates Nouryon’s work to preserve the environment, since they care about how the product will impact the environment even at the end of its lifecycle. If a product is biodegradable, then microorganisms like bacteria will be able to consume the product. Products like hair conditioners should biodegrade after their use so they don’t pile up in water treatment plants, but our sneakers should not biodegrade, or we would not be able to wear them in the rain.
We concluded our tour of Nouryon by learning about polymer recycling. We learned about the two types of recycling, which are mechanical and chemical recycling. Both types have their advantages. Mechanical recycling requires less energy than chemical recycling, but the recycled products are not food safe. Chemical recycling produces food safe polymers, but it requires more energy and research. I really enjoyed spending time at Nouryon, and I was impressed with their commitment and investment towards sustainability.
After the company visit, we took a bus to Rotterdam, which took just over two hours due to traffic. We ended up arriving pretty late in the day, but I am looking forward to exploring more of Rotterdam tomorrow!
