Sustainability

Committed to sustainable solutions

From day one of design, we knew sustainability would be a critical part of our Heartland Petrochemical Complex (HPC). Deliberate design and technology choices paired with local propane feedstock is anticipated to help Heartland generate less greenhouse gas than average North American and global PP facilities.

Reducing emissions and freshwater use

When operating in a steady state, HPC is designed to use by-product ethane and hydrogen to fuel power production in the cogeneration unit (CUB) to make up approximately 32 per cent of the operation’s total fuel usage, reducing the total carbon footprint by approximately 130,000 tonnes annually. Our CUB also uploads approximately 50 megawatts to the public grid annually. This power, produced with natural gas as a feedstock, provides low emissions power to the public grid in the region. Additionally, our use of air cooling instead of water cooling in the operation means we will use 80 per cent less make-up water.

Propane dehydrogenation

Our feedstock is another factor in reducing emissions at HPC. From a well to plant gate basis, our polypropylene carbon footprint is projected to be one of the smallest in the industry due to our propane dehydrogenation process, a vastly cleaner process compared to other technologies and processes in the polypropylene industry.

Diversifying end use, reducing carbon

HPC is designed to utilize more than 22,000 barrels of Canadian propane feedstock per day and turns it into polypropylene pellets, removing the potential for the carbon in propane to be available as a combustion fuel source. Compared to the conventional life cycle of Canadian propane, our process represents a ~44 per cent net reduction in GHG emissions, 0.9-1.0 million tonnes of CO2e/year, in comparison to the standard uses for Canadian propane, across the 25-year operating life of the complex, according to a 2020 lifecycle assessment of GHG emissions conducted by AFARA. This is equivalent to removing roughly 217,000 passenger vehicles from our roads each year or 100 per cent of GHG emissions that Inter Pipeline produced from its Canadian operations in 2019.

Follow our progress

We’re pleased to share details about progress we’re making on our sustainability journey: From reducing emissions and fresh water uptake in our operations, to supporting research and partnerships that find ways for us to use post-consumer recycled plastics in new and innovative ways.

Read our Impact Report

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We are committed to delivering best-in-class solutions that responsibly position our industry for continued growth.

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We are committed to the following organizations:

Plastics Research in Action

Heartland and The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) are working together on applied research to look at ways to reuse and recycle plastic in Canada. The ten-year agreement, known as Plastics Research in Action (PRIA), is funded by our $10 million commitment, which represents the largest applied research partnership in NAIT’s history.

Learn more about PRIA

RESPONSIBLE CARE™

As a member of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, Heartland actively participates in its Responsible Care™ program. By participating in Responsible Care™, Heartland commits to its Responsible Care™ Ethics and Principles for Sustainability and the Responsible Care™ codes.

Visit Chemistry Industry Association of Canada

PLASTICS ALLIANCE OF ALBERTA

Heartland is a member of the Plastics Alliance of Alberta, a partnership between industry, academia and the Government of Alberta. The alliance will work to ensure that Alberta’s plastics sector produces best-in-class products that can be re-used and recycled, generate no waste or emissions and restore ecosystems. The group is chaired by NAIT Industry Solutions and co-chaired by the Recycling Council of Alberta.

Visit the Plastics Alliance Alberta

OPERATION CLEAN SWEEP (OCS)

As a member of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, Heartland is committed to Operation Clean Sweep (OCS). The goal of OCS is for its members to commit to zero plastic pellet loss as part of their operations practices. Some of the measures implemented on site to support OCS include: all pellet storage bins will be covered, using paved areas instead of gravel when possible, handling plastic pellets inside buildings as much as possible and using filters and skimmers on runoff ponds.

Visit Operation Clean Sweep

ALLIANCE TO END PLASTIC WASTE

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste is a global partnership of plastics producers committed to eliminating plastic waste in the environment. Formed in 2019, the Alliance consists of more than 50 member companies and supporters representing global companies and organizations from across the plastic value chain. Through programs and partnerships, the Alliance focuses on solutions in four strategic areas: infrastructure, innovation, education and engagement and environmental clean-up.

Visit The Alliance to End Plastic Waste

Read our latest sustainability stories

Paving a new future

Heartland and NAIT partner for Plastics Research in Action.

View more Dec 14, 2022

A closer look at how our polypropylene is made

How Heartland is making PP better.

View more Jul 17, 2023

PRIA team committed to new outcomes for old waste

Amazing innovations in tangible use of recycled plastics shared at research update.

View more Nov 19, 2022

About Heartland's sustainability