Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd. (TFL) is leading the chemical manufacturing sector by example. As one of India’s leading soda ash manufacturers, their acclaimed manufacturing practices are proving how forward-thinking businesses can take decisive climate action through innovation and collaboration.
Expansion for a Greener Tomorrow
At a recent Unilever event in London, Ashwin Muthiah, Chairman, TFL and Founder-Chairman, AM International, shared plans for scaling operations. With the support and encouragement of Unilever, TFL is aiming to expand its soda ash production capacity from 75,000 tonnes to 275,000 tonnes by March 2027, backed by an investment of USD 40 million.
This expansion would enable TFL to meet growing market demand. It will allow the company to support both India’s domestic needs and Unilever’s global sustainability goals.
Shared Ambitions
Under Unilever’s Supplier Climate Programme, TFL is reducing the carbon footprint of materials used in Unilever’s laundry products. The programme encourages suppliers worldwide to adopt low-carbon manufacturing models and integrate innovative climate solutions. This collaboration is helping Unilever meet its sustainability objectives, while setting new benchmarks for responsible production in India’s chemical sector.
Understanding Soda Ash
Soda ash, also known as sodium carbonate, is a key raw material in various industries. It is an important ingredient in detergent production, where it is used to soften water, maintain alkalinity, and enhance cleaning performance.
Soda Ash’s energy intensive production had always been a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. To remedy this, TFL has transformed the process with its climate-positive approach.
This approach entails producing soda ash using natural resources such as lime. At its Thoothukudi plant in Tamil Nadu, the company captures CO₂ from its boilers and reintegrates it into the production process, preventing emissions from entering the atmosphere. It has also integrated biomass as a renewable energy source. These integrated innovations have led to the ground-breaking innovation of green soda ash, making TFL the world’s first company to manufacture soda ash with near-zero carbon emissions.
The company captures CO₂ from its boilers and reintegrates it into the production process, preventing emissions from entering the atmosphere. It has also replaced conventional fossil fuels, using biomass as a renewable energy source.
Partnerships like that of TFL and Unilever are vital to building a cleaner industrial future. Through low-carbon production practices, they are decarbonising global supply chains and delivering a tangible environmental impact.
