Question 4: What is Mosaic doing to reduce its environmental footprint?

We have made good, consistent progress in the five years since we first published a sustainability report. In our operations, we’re particularly proud of our efforts in the areas of water conservation, land reclamation, the use of alternative energy sources and reducing our carbon footprint.

Our Florida phosphate manufacturing facilities operate on more than 90 percent recycled water, and we continue to find new ways of reducing our water footprint. We’re even working with other local businesses on responsible water use: Mosaic partnered with Duke Energy to eliminate up to 4.6 million gallons per day of groundwater withdrawal in Polk County, Florida.

To better understand our environmental performance, we have tracked our greenhouse gas emissions since Mosaic’s inception in 2004—and we work to reduce emissions intensities year over year. Since 2008, we have improved our total energy consumed per tonne of finished product by over 10 percent. A portion of that savings is due to clean electrical cogeneration from the recovery of waste heat in our operations. In 2013, we produced enough electricity—approximately 6.24 million gigajoules—through cogeneration to satisfy 44 percent of our companywide electrical demand. We used more than 1 million gigajoules of this emission-free cogenerated electricity in our mines.

Mosaic’s best-in-class Florida reclamation activities begin before we mine. First, we work with a dozen local, regional, state and federal regulatory agencies to ensure all mined areas can be successfully reclaimed—and to identify areas of high environmental sensitivity that should be protected. Our teams of professional biologists, hydrologists and other specialists take great pride in the exceptional quality of our reclamation work, and we focus on creating successful, sustainable habitats for diverse wildlife.

We are also finding new ways to reduce our indirect energy consumption. In 2013, we completed the conversion of our Central Florida truck fleet to clean-burning compressed natural gas. We are pleased that the new fleet will allow us to operate more safely, lower our customers’ costs and reduce emissions.

Thanks to the work of our teams in operations, environmental, health and safety, supply chain and engineering, Mosaic has made great strides in reducing energy use and emissions profiles, earning the company recognition.

Since 2009, Mosaic has reported the greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory of more than 50 facilities in seven countries to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). In 2013, we were included in the CDP S&P 500 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index and the CDP S&P 500 Climate Performance Leadership Index. We are proud Mosaic is the first crop nutrition company to be recognized for inclusion in these indices.

Additionally, Mosaic was one of 35 global companies included in the Trucost Natural Capital Leaders Index. We were noted for our record of economic success without environmental degradation.

View Mosaic’s Reporting Leadership & Awards chart to learn how we are strengthening our commitment to sustainability.