Rising to the Challenge

2020 REVIEW

Responding quickly to exceptional circumstances

Landmark deal completes the chemistry set OVERVIEW Rising to the challenge For most companies, spending $5bn on one of the largest deals in its history would be the most Ensuring plants remained operational significant thing to happen in any given year. and that staff were protected has But 2020 has been quite exceptional been a priority during a tough year

or INEOS, this past year has COVID-19 had an irrevocable works, says Crotty. been filled with challenges and effect on our everyday lives and “The fact the company’s Fsuccesses in equal measure. changed people’s behaviour. chairman and major shareholder In March, everything changed. Hygiene and heightened levels of is literally on the phone every day, As coronavirus took hold, social cleanliness had become a necessity, talking about what we need to do distancing, remote working and and the essential ingredients tomorrow, means our decision- widespread disruption became the required to make hand sanitiser making processes are slick and that norm. As an essential sector, the were in short supply. As Europe’s there aren’t any hurdles we can’t chemical industry had to carry on only manufacturer of ultra-high overcome,” he notes. regardless – albeit facing myriad purity ethanol and one of just two “It was a phenomenal response measures and restrictions. producers of isopropyl alcohol from everybody during a period “Of all years, 2020 has proven (IPA), INEOS Chairman Sir Jim of crisis. We all had a common INEOS’ ability to respond rapidly Ratcliffe responded to the needs objective: to get this done and to and to get things done,” says of governments and suggested get it done quickly.” Director of Corporate Affairs, Tom making hand sanitisers in-house. Distributing those vital supplies Crotty. “COVID-19 caught all of “He set us a challenge to see if to frontline medical staff was us by surprise but we reacted very we could build a plant in 10 days initially a bureaucratic minefield quickly to protect our people and and make one million bottles but it provided the perfect chance to do what we could to help.” per month, which we duly did,” to leverage some of the unique Safeguarding staff and says Crotty. “We then ended up skillsets from across the business. supporting local communities building six of these plants – each A phone call from Ratcliffe was a priority, as was ensuring within a 10-day timeframe – and enlisted the help of Sir Dave production facilities remained supplying millions of bottles of Brailsford. His cycling team – now operational to ensure a steady free hand sanitiser to thousands the INEOS Grenadiers – quickly and reliable supply of the 300 raw of hospitals across the UK, Europe took control of the logistics, materials used by the medical and and the US.” ensuring deliveries were made healthcare sectors, he adds. With the concept proven, when, and where, needed. As one of the world’s leading INEOS Hygienics was born – a Sir Ben Ainslie and INEOS manufacturers, INEOS was also new consumer-facing business TEAM UK also soon came firmly focused on doing all it could with a rapidly-growing portfolio onboard and despite their to provide personal protective consisting of hand sanitiser gels, preparations for the upcoming Newton Aycliffe equipment (PPE), facemasks, the in the UK was the sprays, wipes, and dispensers. America’s Cup offered their plastics used in ventilators, and hand first bottling site This exemplifies the way INEOS advanced 3D printers and sanitisers to help fight the virus. machinery typically used for “We reacted quickly to the sail making to produce PPE face shortage of hand sanitiser and shields for the health service. worked with governments around Its most recent partnership the world to get the product out as with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas front line medical teams were in Formula One team also saw them desperate need of it,” says Crotty. turn their unique engineering skills “Our main aim was to get product to developing a new respiratory made quickly and distributed free ventilator system during the early of charge to the health services. stages of the outbreak. And out of all this, sprung a brand “It was a real team effort; a united

Images: INEOS / Max Emanuelson Images: INEOS / Max new business.” front that brought together all of

2 people, with assets that INEOS had the cracker first. When complete, already acquired from BP when it this will be home to Europe’s first bought Innovene back in 2005. ethylene cracker for over two “With BP looking to refocus decades, and the most efficient. and revise its strategy, an exit from INEOS’ commitment to the chemical business has been sustainability and the circular in the offing for some time. We’ve economy has been unwavering always let it be known that if there during the crisis and, despite all the was this kind of opportunity, then disruption, there were still plenty we’d be interested – and now, we’ve of exciting developments. finally completed the chemistry Early 2020 started with news set,” says Crotty. that UPM Biofuels would supply “The BP deal will give us the Hull renewable raw materials to site in its entirety, so that's a huge produce bio-based polyvinyl step change for us. That means that chloride (PVC) – another world we will then have three very large first. This was followed by a footprints in the UK – a triangle partnership with Forever Plast from Grangemouth at the tip, to recycle and reuse over 6.5bn Runcorn on the west coast and Hull bottle caps, plans for a new plant these seemingly different ventures on the east coast. All are major sites with Plastic Energy to convert and the unique skills we've got that show the importance of the UK plastic waste into new high quality within the group,” notes Crotty. to our business.” polymer, and the unveiling of the “As an organisation we've always Equally, tough times have called ambitious Power to Methanol been very light at the centre. We’ve for some difficult decisions too. project to produce methanol got 30 self-contained business The financial impact of the virus, from captured CO2 combined units that could all move outside combined with the long-term with hydrogen generated from of the group and still survive. We decline in fuel demand, saw part renewable electricity. run them as a federation rather of the Grangemouth refinery “This year, of all Add a decade-long wind farm than a corporation, and they all mothballed. “With the refinery, years, has proven deal to source renewable energy, have the resources they need, when it’s about rescaling for the future INEOS’ ability to and the launch of a new hydrogen they need them. We always ensure and having a 150,000bbl site that respond rapidly and business into the mix, and INEOS’ we learn from one another. That's supports 450 high quality jobs. commitment to a more efficient the way we operate and it’s always That's our aim,” he insists. to get things done” and environmentally-friendly worked well for us.” It was also decided that the future is evident. Even with all eyes turned to Forties Pipeline System, which Tom Crotty, “I'd like to see 2021 be the the handling of the pandemic, had been due to start scheduled Director of year where we start to grow arguably one of the year’s biggest maintenance as part of a £500m Corporate Affairs, our hydrogen business and headlines was the announcement rejuvenation plan, would have the INEOS we can really demonstrate our in June that INEOS was to acquire works postponed until spring 2021. commitment to advanced recycling BP’s aromatics and acetyls business Given over 40% of the UK’s oil by getting some facilities up and for $5bn. It was hugely significant and gas travels through the 500km running,” he says. “We also want news – not only due of the deal’s network, delaying the plans would to see the Hygienics business well size and scale but because the help to support customers and the established and integrate the new complex negotiations had to be wider economy during the crisis. BP businesses firmly into ours. carried out virtually via Skype in Other major projects, however, There’s the launch of the Grenadier the midst of the outbreak. have been making good progress. and on the sporting side, if we can “INEOS was clearly not In the US, the Chocolate Bayou win a couple of Grand Tours and insulated from the impact of site in Texas has been a hive of finish in the top four in the Swiss coronavirus but it has largely activity, with work on INEOS and French Leagues, that wouldn’t been business as usual,” he insists. Oligomers’ new alpha olefins units. be too bad either.” “We're bullish and in very good On the other side of the “Something that's really shape financially – and it certainly globe, the three new plants in changed this year is our profile as hasn’t affected any of our long- the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a company. Our name is now seen term planning. So much so, that at the Jubail 2 site are on track, on the shirts of a cycling team, a we’re now in the process of making while INEOS Styrolution is Formula One car, and on the sail this massive acquisition that will also expanding its footprint in of a boat. We also now have three completely change the shape of our China with a 600,000 tonne/year significant consumer businesses in chemicals business.” acrylonitrile butadiene styrene INEOS Hygienics, the Grenadier This “lockdown deal” completed facility in Ningbo. car project and Belstaff clothing.” on 31 December and, as of 1 Engineering work on the “We always used to joke that January, reunited two world €5bn Project One petrochemical INEOS was the biggest company class petrochemicals businesses complex in Antwerp, Belgium, is you've never heard of, but that is consisting of 15 sites, 10 leading well underway too, although the definitely no longer the case.” joint ventures and more than 1,700 project has been rephased to build By Andy Brice

3 TKTKTKTKTKTCORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

Production lines looking to do was relatively were built within straight forward.” just 10 days “The idea then moved very rapidly. We’d decided on a plant in the UK on the first day, planned another in Germany by the third day, and by the fourth we were expanding to France.” Newton Aycliffe near Middlesbrough, UK, was selected as the location for the first factory. The 160-acre site was making polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds as part of the INEOS Enterprises portfolio and was home to polymerisation plants, compounding halls and laboratories but no major petrochemical facilities – thereby minimising any risk of disruption or cross contamination. Most importantly, however, it had plenty of vacant warehouse space GETTING HANDS ON available and was also conveniently close to Grangemouth, the source of the required feedstock ethanol. Mixing equipment was soon installed and readied for the raw materials ethanol, hydrogen WITH COVID peroxide and glycerol. Initially, it was a very manual linear process; Spurred on by an unprecedented health crisis, fixed volumes being passed INEOS has now quite literally established itself through semi-automatic fillers into bottles that passed along the as a household name production line, ready for labelling and boxing. A 24/7 three shift system soon saw output exceeding esponding to government's large quantities of hand sanitiser to targets, with around 80,000 bottles call to address the shortage supply thousands of hospitals free being filled each day. Rof hand sanitiser for of charge. Such was the project’s success, frontline doctors and nurses News channels had been it soon became clear this could INEOS acted quickly, applying its broadcasting footage of China’s be a viable long-term business enormous resources to help ease race to build a new hospital in opportunity. George Ratcliffe, the massive shortages. Wuhan City to treat coronavirus who was leading the compounds “Our solvents business was patients, and that provided business, was duly appointed COO already making key raw materials inspiration for INEOS Chairman of the new operation. for hand sanitiser – pharmaceutical Sir Jim Ratcliffe. “Doing anything like this is ethanol and isopropyl alcohol – but “I remember sitting in his office obviously complex, and there were we did not supply the public direct. and Jim saying that if they could obstacles coming at us left, right That was the birth of the idea to do that, then INEOS should be able and centre,” says Ratcliffe. “This start making our own,” says Ashley to build a bottling site that quickly was where I was able to call on Reed, CEO of INEOS Enterprises too,” says Reed. “He then posed different INEOS resources and and Chairman of the newly formed the challenge to set up a plant in make use of their expertise.” Hygienics business. “It’s now 10 days that could make a million Heightened demand had left Not for the first time in its history, recognised bottles each month.” the world short of pumps, bottles the petrochemical major would be that we're far Given the current circumstances, and packaging – so sourcing treading unfamiliar ground. more than just the target seemed a little ambitious. supplies while launching a hand By now it was clear the virus about producing “At that time, we didn't really sanitiser business at the peak of the was highly contagious, and front know how it could be done,” he pandemic proved problematic. line medical and care services chemicals” admits, “but frankly, for a company Although INEOS makes a lot were in dire need of help. To stem the size of INEOS that builds of the plastic that goes into these the rapid spread of infection, George Ratcliffe, hugely complex petrochemical bottles, caps and closures, it didn’t INEOS committed to setting up a COO, INEOS plants, it didn't take long to actually manufacture the bottles

Images: Markus J Feger purpose built facility to produce Hygienics recognise that what we were themselves. Far from the 50ml

4 bottles that were needed, the that first 10 days, he says. By early smallest containers used by the April, INEOS hand sanitisers were company were typically 45-gallon being shipped to 28 hospitals THE GRENADIERS drums, he notes. across the UK, with wider DELIVER THE GOODS Fortunately, INEOS Olefins and distribution across Europe as the Polymers was able to make the plants reached full capacity. s if producing millions of bottles of necessary introductions to some After Newton Aycliffe came hand sanitiser was not hard enough, of its customers to source the Herne in Germany, closely followed AINEOS faced an arguably tougher job coveted containers. by Lavera and Etain in France. of delivering them to those most in need. The But getting the production lines INEOS’ international response soon rapid spread of the COVID-19 meant there was up and running was only half the spread across the Atlantic, with no time to waste in getting the much-needed challenge, admits Ratcliffe. sites in Jacksonville, Arkansas, and supplies to front line medical staff. “We genuinely thought the Neville Island, Pennsylvania. An offer of help from Sir Dave Brailsford and biggest obstacle would be building INEOS continued to improve the INEOS Grenadiers cycling team provided these plants so quickly,” he says. efficiencies and has now stopped the perfect solution. “It turned out that distributing the production at Lavera and Neville “The lockdown had postponed all our races products would pose some of the Island to focus on the four and we wanted to help in any way we could,” biggest problems.” remaining permanent sites – each says Brailsford. “We offered our support Unless, of course, you have access ramping up their monthly output and Sir Jim Ratcliffe came back to us asking to the world’s most successful to over 5m bottles. whether we could look after the distribution to cycling team, which specialises in Efforts have since been raised the hospitals for INEOS Hygienics.” coordinating logistics (see box). to build awareness about the Through close collaboration with the UK “With all the travelling done INEOS Hygienics brand and to government by Sir Dave Brailsford and the get its gels, sprays, wipes and the and NHS Grenadiers, they are fantastic at new automatic dispenser direct Trusts, moving all their equipment and are to the consumer via its website, Brailsford meticulous in their planning. Every supermarket shelves and the online and his detail is covered and literally no retailer Amazon. team quickly stone goes unturned,” says Ratcliffe. “We’re delighted with how the coordinated “They helped to get everything Hygienics business has helped raise efforts and organised, communicate with awareness of INEOS. People are put plans the hospitals and understood much more familiar with us and in place to where the hotspots were so it’s now recognised that we're far distribute the hand Distributing the hand sanitiser we could prioritise them with more than just about producing proved extremely complex hand sanitiser. It was a huge chemicals,” he says. sanitiser undertaking and was done so INEOS has gained widespread around the professionally. We had their riders praise for its rapid response to country. literally jumping in vans and the crisis and its efforts have also “The logistics side of our sport is very driving around the country to earned recognition from Cefic, complicated and intricate,” he says. “We can drop off the deliveries.” the European Chemical Industry have three events going on at the same time in Equally, INEOS-owned Ligue Council – naming the Hygienics three different parts of the world, and we’ll have 1 football team OGC Nice would business among the winners of its our riders swapping between teams to compete help to coordinate deliveries from 2020 European Responsible Care® in those different races. We’re always having the two manufacturing facilities in Awards. This year’s recipients drew to make sure all our equipment, bikes and France and identify the areas worst particular acclaim for keeping clothing is in the right place, at the right time.” hit by the virus. critical supply chains functioning, “Once we’d analysed the supply chain “I don't think anything has ever protecting workers, and supporting structure and processes, we were able to tap happened as quickly as this in the local communities. into them and figure out the right contacts history of INEOS. This has by far “It's great for the teams to make sure that the country had equal been the fastest turnaround from working at these manufacturing distribution. We did the same for France, concept to proof, and it really sites to get some much deserved Germany and Belgium.” tested our skills to the limit,” notes recognition for what they've Within days of getting involved, INEOS hand Ratcliffe. “I was able to reach into done during the pandemic,” says sanitiser had been delivered to 28 hospitals any of the INEOS businesses and Ratcliffe, “and I really think that including Grangemouth, Halton, Teesside, access the people, resources, and this is the perfect example of Derby and London. skillsets we needed – and it was a how INEOS can pull together, “We even rebranded some of our vans and really good example that we could be responsive and deliver a high the team got involved by personally making pull together and prove that that quality product. We set ourselves deliveries to hospitals around the country,” we’re a nimble company with an a challenge and I can quite adds Brailsford. attitude that we get things done.” confidently say we’ve achieved it. “The Grenadiers were really pleased to Right on schedule, the first In just a few months, we’ve built be able to help. We all found it extremely batch of 3,000 bottles was sent to a new business and a brand – and rewarding and felt we were making an the Nightingale pop-up hospital that’s quite remarkable.” important contribution.” at London’s Excel Centre within By Andy Brice

5 PETROCHEMICALS

Another non-stop year for INEOS’ petrochemicals businesses has seen landmark deals secured, new projects announced and continued expansion into promising markets

Building on firm foundations ever a company to sit back terephthalate (PET), while the recycled plastic in PET beverage on its laurels, INEOS has acetyls business produces acetic bottles from 2025, rising to 30% Nseen another year of growth acid and derivatives such as acetic from 2030, will affect demand for in 2020, both in terms of extending anhydride. virgin polymer. its footprint and expanding The transaction brings a But on the flip side of capacity. Undoubtedly, the biggest whole new chemistry set and challenges also lie opportunities. move is the agreement made in increases coverage of markets Dossett notes that BP had been June to acquire BP’s acetyls and for polyester fibre and film, says developing a sustainability aromatics business. At the time of Stephen Dossett, CEO of INEOS programme on PTA/PET. writing, the transaction was set to Aromatics. While INEOS was Initiatives include PTAir, a low close by end 2020/early 2021. already present in the polyester carbon and carbon neutral PTA The $5bn deal, which market, it was through its supply brand, and PTAir Neutral, which completed on 31 December, is of monoethylene glycol (MEG) the UK energy giant claimed at INEOS’ second largest in its feedstock rather than PTA. the time of launch in September history, adding 15 manufacturing Growth in the polyester resin 2016 was the world’s first plants across Europe, the US and and fibre markets is 4-6% per certified carbon neutral PTA. Asia, which BP said produced year, according to Dossett, who Also, Infinia technology, which 9.7m tonnes of petrochemicals in adds that the acquisition is “a BP designed to turn difficult-to- 2019. Eight plants are located in good route” for INEOS to enter recycle PET plastic waste, such Asia – notably China, Indonesia, the aromatics business in Asia, as black food trays and coloured Malaysia, South Korea and especially China. He points also bottles, into recycled feedstock. Taiwan – five in the US at South to BP’s cost leadership position in The BP assets also boost INEOS’ Carolina (where there are two aromatics in all three world regions acetyls footprint, especially purified terephthalic acid (PTA) as well as its “excellent and world- in Asia, where there are joint units), Texas and Trinidad, and leading PTA technology”. ventures with Sinopec, Lotte, two in Europe – the UK and BP reentered the PTA licensing Petronas, and China America Belgium, the latter housing two market in 2014, but Dossett says it Petrochemical Co (CAPCO) PTA units and one paraxylene is too early to say yet what INEOS’ and Formosa Petrochemical in (PX) plant at Geel. position will be in that regard. China, South Korea, Malaysia and INEOS also picks up BP’s Infinia There are nevertheless challenges Taiwan, respectively. advanced recycling technology for the aromatics business. There David Brooks, CEO of INEOS as well as its interest in Tricoya, a has been a significant build-up Acetyls, says the company is joint venture that intends to build in PTA/PET production in Asia, aiming to expand its market share a wood elements acetylation plant leading to excess capacity with and look at how it can grow in at the Saltend Chemicals Park in the region’s export capabilities Asia. He notes that growth rates in the UK. expected to put downward pressure the region for acetic acid are above BP’s aromatics business produces on other manufacturers. Looking GDP with not much new capacity mixed xylene, PX and PTA, key to Europe, the region’s directive due to go online in the next few

Image: Pretty Pictures Image: Pretty feedstocks for making polyethylene to target the inclusion of 25% years. “I would like INEOS to be

6 MAKING PROGRESS ON PROJECT ONE ork on INEOS’ flagship project award engineering, procurement at Lillo, Belgium – dubbed and construction-type contracts. WProject One – continues to He says the cracker will be built forge ahead. in modular form, with sections The past year has been dominated constructed in the East and shipped by engineering, with INEOS working to the site for assembly. with companies in Europe and South A final investment decision is Korea to develop a blueprint for the expected by late 2021 or early 2022. complex, which comprises a propane The aim now is for the cracker to go dehydrogenation (PDH) unit and online first – scheduled in late 2025/ ethane cracker. early 2026 – with the PDH to follow at John McNally, CEO of Project One, a later date. says the early engineering work will The size and scale of the project is conclude next year. Detailed design a first for INEOS. The environmental work will follow and INEOS expects footprint of the project is also looking to apply for the various necessary increasingly attractive, at less than half permits by mid-2021. of CO2 emissions per tonne of product By the end of 2021, likely in the compared with the most efficient Lillo in Belgium will be home to the fourth quarter, McNally expects to crackers in Europe. major new cracker and PDH project

the next producer that builds a Belgium. INEOS says the facility market share for imported new worldscale acetic acid plant,” is the largest of its kind in Europe materials into Europe on the says Brooks. and is fed by Very Large Gas back of new investments with INEOS is now Europe’s leading Carriers (VLGCs) that bring advantaged feedstock. Project One manufacturer of acetic acid, material in from the US, giving gives us that same competitive producing over 500,000 tonnes/ the cracker more options and advantage allowing us to compete year at Saltend. However, the improving its cost competitiveness. on a level playing field, but with company has been less integrated Also under construction local production we can also into downstream derivatives, such are two cogeneration units at provide the service and flexibility as vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) Cologne and Grangemouth, UK, that our customers need.” and acetic anhydride, compared to provide steam and power. The For INEOS Phenol, a new with some of its competitors, plants will also bring significant worldscale cumene plant is under with a big focus on the merchant improvements in the sites’ CO2 construction in Marl, Germany, market. The BP deal will likely footprint, Ingram says. with commissioning due by late change that. An additional ethylene 2021 and full operation in 2022. “We are interested to see how furnace is being installed at Hans Casier, CEO of INEOS much further we can integrate Grangemouth, expanding output Phenol & INEOS Nitriles, says the downstream of acetic acid,” says by 100,000 tonnes/year with plant will underpin its business in Brooks, adding that the company completion due towards the end Europe, providing its own supply continues to consider investing in of this year. of cumene, which is currently a VAM plant at Saltend. A decision The possibility of expanding at sourced on the merchant market. to go ahead will be made in the Rafnes, Norway, is an option for He also reveals that the business first half of this year. the long term, notes Ingram, but is once again looking at the For INEOS Olefins & Project One (see box) will fulfil prospect of building a new phenol Polymers Europe, 2020 has been INEOS’ needs for the near future. plant in China, something that was dominated by a series of projects He says the European on the table a couple of years ago. at Cologne, Germany, that include petrochemicals industry is Possibly, the company could modifications to the cracker’s characterised by ageing assets, and build on what it already has in furnaces, new infrastructure plus a producers’ abilities to maintain Asia on nitriles – INEOS has a new jetty on the Rhine river. and upgrade their capacities to joint venture with Sinopec on The work, which was completed remain competitive for the long acrylonitrile (ACN) technology, in May 2020, significantly increases term will be key for the region. called the INEOS Sinopec the cracker’s feedstock flexibility. “That is why we see Project One Technology Joint Venture (TJV). Rob Ingram, CEO of O&P Europe, as a significant commitment to Casier says the current, and main explains that the cracker is now Europe’s petrochemicals industry focus, for the nitriles business is able to use substantially more and to support the competitive with TGV in China, where demand butane, as well as naphtha. growth of our European is healthy, as well as its upcoming In addition, a new storage customers,” says Ingram. “We have 400,000 tonne/year ACN plant in tank has been built at Antwerp, seen a general trend of increasing Saudi Arabia.

7 PETROCHEMICALS

Across the Atlantic in the evaluating other opportunities. and the consolidation of US R&D US, INEOS has moved ahead “Oligomers is preparing for the activities at Battleground. A pilot with installing new linear alpha next step forward for growth. plant from Naperville in west olefins (LAO)/polyalphaolefins The business has had a lot of Chicago moved to the complex, (PAO) units at its flagship site momentum and, in true INEOS along with a number of catalyst in Chocolate Bayou, Texas. The style, we will keep that momentum development and production 420,000 tonne/year LAO unit came going,” says Walton. labs. A second pilot plant at onstream late in the second quarter The INEOS O&P USA business Naperville was closed and rebuilt of 2020, with the PAO facility to made a significant acquisition in “The acquisition in Rosignano, Italy. be operational in the second half November, agreeing terms to buy will allow the Bob Learman, Chairman of of 2021. partner Sasol’s 50% share of their business to meet INEOS Oxide, O&P USA and Joe Walton, CEO of INEOS Gemini joint venture for $404m. the needs of a Oligomers, says he is particularly Oligomers, says the plants are a The deal, which closed at the end of growing market” proud of the concerted efforts key milestone in the first phase of 2020, gives INEOS full ownership of all the businesses have made its growth strategy and provide the venture, which is located at the in 2020 to improve Chocolate worldscale capability on the Battleground complex in LaPorte, Michael Nagle, Bayou’s production reliability and US Gulf Coast, where they can Texas and makes bimodal high- CEO, INEOS logistics capability. He says there capitalise on globally competitive density PE (HDPE) for the pipe and O&P USA has been a lot of infrastructure spend, which makes it easier Alpha olefins units are for INEOS to consider future being built in the US investments at the site, where it still has a lot of spare land available for expanding derivatives at a later stage. Styrenics producer INEOS Styrolution announced the largest investment in its history in January 2020 when it revealed plans to build a world-scale acrylonitrile- butadiene-styrene (ABS) plant in Ningbo, China. Engineering work has begun on the “hallmark project”, which will produce 600,000 tonnes/year when it starts up in the second half of 2023. This new investment follows the acquisition of two polystyrene (PS) plants in Ningbo and Foshan from Total in 2018. Groundbreaking was due to take gas and ethylene economics, film markets. place in mid-December. complementing production assets “Bimodal products are in high INEOS Styrolution’s Chairman in Canada and Europe. demand and the acquisition allows Kevin McQuade says China is the INEOS has also made extensive the business to meet the needs of a largest ABS market in the world, modifications to the site’s barge growing market,” says INEOS O&P where demand is growing in line dock, which handled light olefins USA CEO Michael Nagle. with GDP and output will serve and gases, to enable it to ship At Chocolate Bayou, the markets such as automotive and LAO and PAO liquids. Work was business has carried out a series household appliances. completed with first shipments of upgrades and debottlenecking “We have recently Also, construction is well made in October. It has also added measures, adding 275,000 tonnes/ demonstrated underway on a new worldscale four new barges to its fleet. year of new ethylene capacity the potential styrenics specialties plant for New LAO/PAO plants, as well as from late 2020/early 2021. The for mechanical 100,000 tonnes/year acrylonitrile the ACN unit, are also planned for extra output will feed existing recycling of PS styrene acrylate (ASA) polymer in Saudi Arabia, as part of the Amiral polyethylene (PE) production, as into food contact Bayport, Texas, which is due on petrochemical complex being well as the new oligomers output applications, stream in 2022. implemented by Saudi Aramco and and Stryolution’s needs in the Recycling is a major focus for Total. INEOS’ involvement in the Houston area. previously the styrenics company, which is project was originally announced For Nagle, the highlights of viewed as a working with several partners on in mid-2019 and engineering work 2020 include the Q1 start-up of near impossible PS depolymerisation technologies has continued to progress. Start-up a “power island” at Chocolate achievement” with projects in Europe and the US is expected in Q3 2026. Bayou, which consists of two moving ahead. The Saudi investment marks a new cogeneration plants and Kevin McQuade, Together with Trinseo, INEOS second phase of growth for INEOS three steam boilers to improve CEO, INEOS Styrolution plans to build a PS

Image: INEOS Oligomers, which will also be electrical and steam reliability, Styrolution recycling plant in Wingles, France,

8 capable of processing up to 50 tonnes/day of post-consumer PLANS PROVIDE A feedstock. Operations are scheduled to start by mid-2023. SOLID PLATFORM In the US, Agilyx technology FOR THE FUTURE will be used in a new 100 tonne/ day PS depolymerisation facility in Channahon, Illinois as part of a joint venture with AmSty. Start-up could potentially be in 2022-2023. An independent life cycle assessment for depolymerised styrene has shown up to a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with fossil- based styrene, according to INEOS Styrolution. hese are Looking to the McQuade adds that the business challenging future, the business has also made great strides on Ttimes for has identified the mechanical recycling of PS oil and gas several exciting and ABS. “We have successfully operators, developments, introduced commercial grades with the sector including a number of recycled ABS (ECO ABS) into blighted by of wells being drilled the market with very positive pricing volatility and widespread in Norway, and plans to tap into large feedback and high interest and uncertainty because of the reserves in Denmark’s Hejre oilfield. demand from customers,” he coronavirus outbreak. The rerouting of the Clipper says. “Moreover, we have recently Such has the impact been on revenue South gas field through the Shell demonstrated the potential streams that it has been necessary Bacton export hub has also been a for mechanical recycling of PS to constantly revise plans and review huge success, he notes, and “has into food contact applications, projects this past year to ensure they outstripped expectations”. The Clipper previously viewed as a near make sense from an economic and South field was due to be shut down in impossible achievement.” technical perspective, says Dougie 2018 due to third party infrastructure A noteworthy event for INEOS Scott, CEO of INEOS Oil & Gas. decommissioning. However, the re- Styrolution was the awarding of “We've been in defer mode but route has extended the Clipper South a platinum rating from EcoVadis there is optimism ahead,” he insists. by at least 12 years. The heart of the for its advanced sustainability “If you look at the last 12 months, Clipper South system is a remote- performance. INEOS Styrolution is there were some key events that control gas water separator to handle the first among the INEOS group shaped our thinking on how best to high levels of liquids from the wells. to receive the rating, which is the run the business.” This is the first time this technology highest available and awarded to “One was the historically low gas has been operated successfully in a just the top 1% of companies. price, which actually dropped prior to remote-control application. “I believe we are at the forefront COVID. The full impact of the lockdown “This has been another great of INEOS on sustainability and also meant we had to reorganise our example of how we're taking assets and circularity within the industry,” says business to ensure continuing safe and rethinking how they operate,” adds Scott. Steve Harrington, CEO of INEOS reliable production.” Perhaps among the most intriguing Styrolution. “It is recognised as a “I think we've got another prospects moving forward, he adds, major achievement by both our challenging year ahead of us but I'm is an ambitious project to inject and customers and suppliers.” optimistic because we're all working store carbon dioxide into disused and For the future, the company tirelessly to ensure that our cost base depleted oil fields in the North Sea. aims to develop its footprint is appropriate,” he says. “The Greensand project has further in Asia, the largest With gas prices down at historical enormous potential and would allow growth area for styrenics. “We lows during the summer, Scott says the Danish Government to fully deliver will continue to make large the business decided to shut in on its 2030 carbon reduction targets,” investments and acquisitions in some fields. “This was an economic he says. “Over the last few months, Asia, with a specific focus on ABS decision and our partners fully we've engaged heavily with its Climate and specialties,” says Harrington, supported us,” he says. “We're now Ministry about funding for the project noting that innovation efforts back up and running and are reaping and have had a very positive response.” are looking at providing new the benefits of the higher gas prices. Surveys are currently being carried materials for electric cars and It showed our flexibility and agility, out to check the field’s suitability. The electronic components in vehicles, and that we’re able to adapt to a results are expected by the middle as well as in construction and situation like this and make decisions of 2021. telecommunications, such as 5G. very quickly.” By Andy Brice By Elaine Burridge

9 SUSTAINABILITY

SET ON A SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY

In September INEOS agreed A continued focus on sustainability and the circular the largest ever industrial wind power purchase contract in economy remains central to INEOS’ plans moving forward Belgium with ENGIE

ustainability has always in the industry based on our enlisted by INEOS to meet the been a focus for INEOS. It sustainability objectives and needs for: Sis viewed by the company performance and sits alongside ● Reduced use of fossil fuels for as fundamental to the way it does gold and platinum ratings for energy to help meet the climate- business today. our INOVYN and Styrolution neutrality challenge; Peter Williams, INEOS Group businesses,” comments Greet ● Increased re-use and recycling Technology Director, explains Van Eetvelde, Head of Energy – in a move towards a circular that embracing sustainability & Innovation at INEOS Group. economy; and “means the business is conducted “We are committed to continuous "Our headline ● Progress towards net-zero so that it contributes to society, improvement as we progress our priorities are to greenhouse gas (GHG) conserves the environment; and long-term sustainability goals.” help meet the emission operation. is successful economically.” Van Eetvelde adds: “Just as over climate-neutrality “As a chemical company, we He sees sustainability as a key 20 years ago, we started taking steps challenge, the need to meet these needs and even driver of innovation. As such, he that would ensure our business circular economy, lead the way,” says Williams. says, it is highly integrated into all could be sustained to the present INEOS’ strategy takes a holistic of INEOS’ activities. day. Today, we are taking new steps developing new view of what is needed to deliver a This approach was recently to ensure we will be sustainable businesses and sustainable business: operational recognised by EcoVadis, the through to 2050 and beyond. That moving to green safety; development and diversity world’s most trusted provider of now means moving towards the net raw materials" of its people; ethical governance; business sustainability ratings. zero economy of 2050.” support for local communities INEOS received a gold In the past, the focus was very and the natural environment; and sustainability score, with an overall much on efficiency, in terms of Geir Tuft, climate and circularity. rating that puts INEOS into the top both energy and materials use. CEO, INOVYN All are vital, says Williams, but 4% of companies. Today, with increasing societal the climate and circularity focus “The gold rating by EcoVadis demands and regulatory pressures, is attracting particular effort at

Image: INEOS confirms a strong position sustainability practices are being present and looks set to drive

10 business innovation for the future. step change in energy efficiency to conventionally produced PVC. Indeed, it is already leading and carbon footprint – a key aspect But biobased feedstocks are not to the creation of new products, of progress. The new cracker will the only materials that can be used businesses and partnerships, in have half the emissions of Europe’s in the cracker feed. INEOS is also areas such as plastics recycling, best performing crackers,” he says. looking at using waste polymers hydrogen production, methanol Third, INEOS is exploring the processed so that they be used and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). use of biofeedstocks in its steam to replace naphtha. It has started Responsibility for driving crackers, to make polyolefins and a collaboration with Spanish sustainability at INEOS resides PVC that have significantly lower company Plastic Energy that will with each of the major business GHG footprints. “It is early days,” take waste plastic and chemically units, with their CEOs responsible says Williams, “but it will start to convert it into feedstock using to the INEOS board and meet an evolving demand from the Thermal Anaerobic Conversion shareholders for progress and market for green materials.” technology to produce a product hitting targets. Ingram adds some more details known as Tacoil. Geir Tuft, CEO of INEOS’ on the move to alternative feedstocks The partnership aims to have INOVYN business, has a number by INEOS to improve sustainability. a recycling plant up and running of priorities, driven largely by the The company has recently signed a “To take plastic by the end of 2023, once the fact that the PVC producer is a long-term agreement with Finland’s waste back to processing has been optimised to huge consumer of energy and that UPM Biofuels for supply of the virgin plastic give a suitable cracker feedstock. PVC has historically been under latter’s UPM BioVerno, a sustainable is the ultimate The resulting material will also pressure from the environmental naphtha substitute made from the definition of be used in the Cologne cracker to lobby. "Our headline priorities are residue of wood pulp processing. make new polymer. to help meet the climate-neutrality This is being fed into the recycling and Such advanced recycling, says challenge, the circular economy, Cologne naphtha cracker to will create a Ingram, makes it possible to make developing new businesses and produce bioethylene and hence truly circular a final product with an identical moving to green raw materials." a wide range of bio-attributed economy” specification as the virgin polymer. he explains. polyolefins as well as PVC. These “To take plastic waste back to virgin At INEOS Olefins and Polymers can be used in a range of products plastic is the ultimate definition Europe, priorities run along similar from plastic food packaging, to Rob Ingram, of recycling and will create a truly lines, with recycling/circular medical items and pipes. CEO, INEOS circular economy,” says Ingram. economy and alternative raw The Roundtable for Sustainable Olefins & Polymers Fourth, says Williams, INEOS materials high on the agenda, says Biomaterials (RSB) has certified is looking to use alternative energy CEO Rob Ingram. each step in the process, starting sources in its operations. It has, for Williams highlights five from UPM’s crude tall oil residue, example, just signed a 10-year deal initiatives in the climate area which to the bio-naphtha and then to with Belgium’s ENGIE to buy 84MW have the promise to deliver GHG final polymers. of wind power which, Williams savings over the next five years. The agreement supports says, will save INEOS 1.15m With climate initiatives, Williams INEOS’ plans to make plastics tonnes of GHG emissions over says, “there is no silver bullet. We from renewable materials, thus the coming decade. The electricity need a manifold strategy and need significantly reducing GHG from the North Sea will be used by to drive energy efficiency and get emissions and supporting a existing INEOS production sites new energy systems in place as more sustainable approach to its and ultimately the new Project One renewables develop in scale and business, says Ingram. cracker and PDH unit. become more economic.” Tuft points out that INOVYN is And lastly, INEOS has just First in line are improvements now commercialising BIOVYNTM, established a new hydrogen in energy efficiency across INEOS’ a green PVC from two production business, as part of INOVYN, to existing sites. “We have a whole sites in Europe, which it offers as explore the use of clean hydrogen raft of projects in place that will 100% non-fossil-fuel attributed. as an alternative energy source for improve our efficiency and cut GHG It can do this because of the its own plant operations – either emissions over the next three years. use of biofeedstocks in INEOS’ in fuel boilers or via electricity Just by these actions, we anticipate Cologne cracker. Using a mass generation – and for sale to near term reductions in GHG balance approach and third-party external customers. emissions of 10%,” notes Williams. certification by the RSB, the The hydrogen will be Second, there is investment bioethylene so-produced can be manufactured by decomposition in new plants which will enable attributed to VCM and hence to of water using renewable INEOS to bring in state-of-the-art the BIOVYNTM PVC. electricity, using INOVYN’s technologies that are even more The product is already attracting expertise in electrolysis. energy efficient. Williams points a lot of interest, he says, from The business will have its to INEOS’ €5bn Project One customers in the automotive, headquarters in the UK and aims development at Lillo, Antwerp, flooring and pipe sectors who want to build capacity to produce which will see construction of to use a material to meet their end hydrogen across the INEOS a new ethane-fed cracker and customers’ green demands. The network of sites in Europe, in propane dehydrogenation unit. product, he adds, delivers a GHG addition to partner sites where “This will enable us to make a saving or more than 90% compared hydrogen can help address the

11 SUSTAINABILITY 2020 January ● Styrenics Circular Solutions (SCS) members – which includes INEOS Styrolution – to evaluate Pyrowave plastic- to-plastic advanced recycling technology climate-neutrality challenge. recycling, by stimulating investment The company already produces in collection and processing and by February 300,000 tonnes/year of hydrogen developing ways to upgrade recyclate ● INEOS partners with Forever Plast to from its operations, largely as a by- into high specification materials. recycle over 6.5bn bottle caps back into product. INEOS, says Tuft, already It has, for example, just launched high quality caps has the technology to produce, a range of Recycl-IN polyethylene ● Agreement with UPM Biofuels to supply transport and store hydrogen. and polypropylene grades, made a renewable raw material to produce bio-attributed polyolefins in Germany In a complementary initiative, using a blend of very high-spec

INOVYN has joined a major virgin material with up to 60% of April seven-strong consortium in recyclate to produce a polymer ● Collaboration with Plastic Energy on new Antwerp seeking to demonstrate without sacrificing final product plant to convert waste plastic into raw production of sustainable methanol performance. The range covers material to make new plastic by late 2023 from green hydrogen and captured rigid and flexible products for use carbon dioxide. If joint feasibility in non-food contact applications. June studies are successful, the Power Recycl-IN uses post-consumer ● INEOS Styrolution research proves post to Methanol project will see the recycled plastic from a number of consumer polystyrene waste can be a valuable feedstock and can halve construction of an 8,000 tonne/year recycling companies, which will greenhouse gas emissions methanol plant at INEOS’ site at include Viridor’s new state-of-the- Lillo, in the Port of Antwerp. art recycling plant. 1% July Tuft says a second phase could INEOS is adopting the same ● INEOS Styrolution awarded platinum increase capacity to 50,000 tonnes/ partnership approach to advanced rating by EcoVadis for its advanced year if the technology proves recycling – which can be used sustainability performance. The platinum successful. The initiative is not so to address the issue of recycling rating is awarded to the top 1% of companies much about creating a new source lower quality and mixed plastics August of methanol, Tuft argues, but finding waste. Here, technology is not yet ● INEOS Styrolution and Recycling a viable way to use hydrogen, which so advanced and INEOS is helping Technologies sign joint development is energy intensive but relatively with technology development as agreement for recycling polystyrene inefficient to transport. Using it to well as promoting infrastructure produce methanol or ammonia, investment though partnerships. September for instance, gives you more usage INOVYN is looking at the ● INEOS becomes first company in the options, he argues. advanced recycling of PVC into chemicals and polymers sector to achieve certification from RSB – the Roundtable “This is an exciting project materials that can be used to on Sustainable Biomaterials and an excellent fit with our manufacture new PVC. Tuft points ● INEOS Styrolution signs agreement to sustainability strategy, as it out that mechanical recycling advance the circularity of polystyrene with includes pursuing options for of the polymer is already well AmSty, Agilyx and Trinseo; plans first alternative energy and lower established – some 750,000 tonnes/ European polystyrene recycling plant in carbon production of chemicals.” year of recyclate being marketed in France with Trinseo; announces joint facility On the circular economy front, the EU, but that advanced recycling for advanced recycling of polystyrene in the says Williams, “as a chemicals and (or chemical recovery) would be US with AmSty, using Agilyx technology polymers company, we are mainly a “game changer”, allowing much ● Largest-ever purchase contract of wind energy for heavy industry in Belgium a materials producer and therefore more post-consumer waste to be agreed. Deal with ENGIE to cut CO2 the circular economy theme goes recycled and dealing with legacy by over 1m tonnes/year across the company as a whole. issues in the PVC sector. It is early ● INEOS Olefins & Polymers partners with Plastic waste is a global issue and days, Tuft explains, and “poses a Saica Natur in supply agreement for INEOS is putting efforts into both significant challenge, so we may recycled LDPE and LLDPE for use in mechanical and more advanced need to form partnerships.” virgin quality flexible packaging recycling of polymer products.” In future, says Williams, INEOS has made quite some INEOS will be disclosing more November progress on plastic recycling and on its sustainability activities, ● Emission reduction commitment ensures INEOS will be climate-neutral in Antwerp, gained traction with customers, having not felt the need to do so Belgium, by 2050 at the latest adds Ingram. He sees INEOS in the past as a private company. ● INEOS launches new Clean Hydrogen Business contributing to the circular It is currently updating its Group Sustainability Report. ● Agreement with Hyundai Motor Company economy recycling effort in several to examine potential of hydrogen keys ways, where it has skills The key thing, he points out, applications and technologies – including and capabilities to offer. “We are is to be pragmatic, and do things Hyundai’s fuel cell system for the Grenadier looking to work with partners and now to reap early rewards. “Our 4x4 vehicle stakeholders to make progress.” roadmap to climate neutrality and 4% First, it is looking into design circularity has both short term December for recyclability and working with and longer-term options in it. ● Former BP CFO Brian Gilvary appointed customers and the value chain to But it is really important that we as Executive Chairman of new INEOS Energy venture that incorporates all oil re-engineer products and materials bank today’s opportunities whilst and gas assets to make them easier to recycle. working on approaches for the ● Decade-long renewable power deal agreed Second, it is looking at building the longer term.” with RWE to cut CO2 from Belgian sites by a

Information graphic: Gareth JJ Burgess Gareth graphic: Information capacity and market for mechanical By John Baker further 745,000 tonnes ● EcoVadis awards INEOS gold standard sustainability rating, placing it among 12 top 4% of companies in the sector INEOS aims to achieve four ambitious ON TARGET circular economy targets by 2025

1 To use 325,000 tonnes of recycled polymer in products

2 To offer a range of polyolefin products for packaging containing 50% or more recycled content

3 Use on average 30% recycled content in products destined for polystyrene packaging in Europe

4 Ensure 100% of polymer products can be recycled FINITE RESOURCES... INFINITE POSSIBILITIES

ustainability and the circular – putting INEOS into the top 4% of making plastic from renewable raw economy are not new concepts companies in the sector. INEOS materials or storing carbon dioxide Sfor INEOS but they have become Styrolution was also awarded a in depleted oil fields, INEOS is the cornerstone of an ambitious and platinum rating by EcoVadis for its challenging the conventional. forward-looking strategy. INEOS advanced sustainability performance. By leveraging its capabilities as one recognises the potential to reuse, Across its business units around of the world’s largest manufacturers repurpose, and recycle to minimise the globe, it remains committed and exploiting its resources, waste and create value. to reducing its carbon footprint, technologies and expertise, the A year that started with plans exploring innovative technologies, business has created a robust for the world’s first commercially and harnessing the potential of framework to ensure it plays a key available bio-attributed polyvinyl renewable energy and feedstocks. role in building a more sustainable chloride has ended with a gold From advanced recycling and business for the future. sustainability rating from EcoVadis new hydrogen applications, to By Andy Brice

COMING FULL CIRCLE $4.5 Potential economic benefits trillion of a circular economy to 2030*

Projected increase of annual Society’s growing Tonnes of materials extracted waste generation by 2050** 70% and processed globally desire to move towards 92 by all industries in 2019 – a climate neutral future billion contributing about half of is driving change. A circular global CO2 emissions* Plastic packaging that economy ensures raw materials will never be reused or recycled unless there is 30% are used efficiently and effectively fundamental redesign before being reused and repurposed. Tonnes of plastics and innovation#* While all INEOS polymers are recyclable, 359 production globally in million 2018, up from 348m the only about 14% of plastic currently gets year before† recycled – with most of it instead heading The value of plastic packaging material lost to to landfill. INEOS remains focused on the economy each year – 95% transforming today’s take, make, worth $80bn-120bn# dispose economy into one where 61.8 Total plastic produced in plastics are designed to million Europe in 2018 (in tonnes)† be used time and Tonnes of plastic post- Sources: time again * World Economic Forum consumer waste collected in 9.4 † PlasticsEurope Market Research Europe for recycling (2018)† million Group and Conversio Market & Strategy # Ellen MacArthur Foundation ** World Bank

13 AUTOMOTIVE

On track Off road

INEOS’ rugged and Automotive revealed that it build the 4x4 from late 2021 for had acquired Mercedes-Benz’s delivery to customers worldwide uncompromising production plant at Hambach. in 2022. Describing Hambach as “the The Grenadier’s design was off-roader is on track, ideal facility” for manufacturing revealed last July, showing an the Grenadier, the company says uncompromising vehicle built with the first vehicles it is one of Europe’s most modern with aluminium body panels on expected to roll off the automotive manufacturing a steel chassis, ready to cope with sites, with a highly experienced the world’s toughest terrain. production line in 2021 and capable workforce, also The ethos of the design was clear recently benefitting from a major – a utility vehicle developed to do investment to enable the dedicated a job, with function selected over production of SUV vehicles, form and every decision made with n just four years, starting with a similar in size to the Grenadier. practicality in mind. discussion over a pint of beer at In addition, the location, only “We set out to design a modern, Ia London pub in 2016, INEOS 200km from Stuttgart, allows functional and highly capable 4x4 Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s idea of excellent access to suppliers and vehicle with utility at its core,” says building a new 4x4 vehicle is now target markets. Head of Design, Toby Ecuyer. “A coming very close to reality. The plant currently builds smart design that is ‘easy-to-read’, with “We have been “The Grenadier project started EQ fortwo electric vehicles, which no ambiguity about the Grenadier’s able to stay true by identifying a gap in the market, INEOS will continue to produce role in life. There to do everything to the essence abandoned by a number of under contract to Mercedes-Benz, you need, and nothing you don’t. of creating a manufacturers, for a utilitarian off- as well as some of the German Nothing is for show. Modern road vehicle,” says Ratcliffe. “This carmaker’s components, alongside engineering and production utilitarian vehicle gave us our engineering blueprint the Grenadier. techniques ensure the Grenadier is that will stand the for a capable, durable and reliable “This acquisition marks our highly capable, but we have been test of time” 4x4 built to handle the world’s biggest milestone yet in the able to stay true to the essence of harshest environments. But it had development of the Grenadier,” creating a utilitarian vehicle that to look the part as well.” says INEOS Automotive CEO Dirk will stand the test of time.” Toby Ecuyer, In the latest step, announced Heilmann, adding that it can now He explains that while the design Head of Design,

Images: INEOS / Mercedes-Benz AG Images: INEOS / Mercedes-Benz on 8 December 2020, INEOS begin preparations at Hambach to was engineering-led, that did not INEOS Automotive

14 engineers took apart some of the design that is quite different to GRENADIER SPECIFICATIONS world’s most renowned off-road other, similar vehicles. He says vehicles and benchmarked them, INEOS took inspiration from ● Box-section ladder frame ultimately exploring three main vehicles as diverse as lorries, ● Beam axles front and rear options: leaf springs; coil springs; or tractors and even a quarrying ● Multi-link suspension with coil springs air bags. They used computer-aided machine, as well as aircraft. and heavy duty dampers design to develop a theoretical “This research shines through ● BMW 6-cylinder, 3-litre petrol or new model that combined the strongly in the interior, which has diesel engine best engineering ingredients to a very practical edge but still an ● Automatic 8-speed gearbox with ultimately create something they element of sophistication,” Ecuyer driver override said would be even better. notes, adding that electronics have ● 17-inch or 18-inch steel wheels The result was a multi-link been kept to a minimum as much ● Bridgestone Dueler A/T 001 tyres suspension set-up with separate coil as possible. springs and heavy duty dampers For the design overall, Ecuyer that give the Grenadier maximum says there is a very difficult balance traction and articulation. between deciding what you want mean the car had to be ugly. The Taking an existing BMW engine to spend money on and what is resulting distinctive and permanent – known to be robust and reliable – acceptable as a carry-over part. four-wheel-drive vehicle is built INEOS modified it to give a higher “There is a huge amount of skill on a super-strong ladder frame, amount of torque at low revs, while in bringing it in at the right price featuring simple round headlights still having something in reserve. and the interior is a good example and a built-in utility rail. Under The steel wheels – capable of that.” the bonnet is a BMW six-cylinder, of being hammered back into In August 2020, the INEOS cycling three-litre diesel or petrol engine shape if damaged – are fitted with team officially switched to become and the gearbox is an eight-speed Bridgestone versatile All Terrain the INEOS Grenadiers, ahead of the automatic with a driver override (AT) 001 Dueler tyres, which are start of the Tour de France. option. The wheels are steel, available designed to balance both on- and As part of the Grenadier’s as 17-inch or 18-inch options, with off-road characteristics, enabling “testing-in-plain-sight” tyres specially developed for INEOS drivers to keep going in all programme, vehicle prototypes by Bridgestone. conditions and terrains. attended the start of the Tour INEOS Automotive chose to work Bridgestone said the tread de France in Nice and have with Austrian offroad engineering design provides enhanced traction been following the team around giant Magna to develop the and braking, while enhanced the world as they complete the Grenadier. The first job was to select tread grooves create better water rigorous testing and development the chassis, with engineers opting evacuation, as well as low noise on phase that needs to accumulate 1.8 for the well-proven ladder frame, the tarmac, without compromising on- million kilometres on and off-road basis during the past 70 years or so road performance. There is also the over the coming months. for some of the world’s most iconic option of BF Goodrich AT tyres for At the outset of the Grenadier off-roaders. The ladder frame is pure off-roading. project, Ecuyer says the company exceptionally strong, stiff, stable and Mark Tennant, Commercial brought some of the great 4x4s reliable, and also ideal for attaching Director at INEOS Automotive, says of the past into the studio to look extra, heavy duty equipment, such as the team at Bridgestone had taken closely at what made them so winches and trailers. INEOS’ “built-on-purpose” message enduring. Legendary offroaders Subsequently, engineers at to heart in tailoring the Dueler A/T include the Land-Rover, Toyota Italian axle specialist Carraro 001 to its requirements. FJ40, the Willys Jeep, and the decided beam axles front and rear INEOS Automotive is planning Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, to were the ideal and most robust to reveal the vehicle’s interior in name a few. The new vehicle choice for the Grenadier, and less the first half of 2021. Ecuyer says He notes the common design will be built at the vulnerable to damage. the “traditional” offroader look traits, proportions and same clarity Hambach plant Turning to suspension, Magna has been replaced with a modern of purpose between these and the Grenadier, saying: “I think the Grenadier sits very naturally among these 4x4 icons and if others agree, then we’ve achieved our design objective.” Offroading experts and drivers will undoubtedly share their views once the first models start rolling off the production line. For the future, the company has also been working on a pick-up version of the Grenadier, with a double cab. By Elaine Burridge

15 SPORT

t has been quite a year for Sir Dave Brailsford and the INEOS IGrenadiers – particularly as national lockdowns forced delays to the race programme and saw the team divert their resources to support INEOS’ COVID response. As part of the “Hands On!" project, they delivered millions of bottles of hand sanitiser, free of charge, to thousands of UK and European It has been another eventful year for the INEOS Grenadiers hospitals (see page 5). With riders unable to train outdoors for long periods because of the restrictions, they also took to certainly proved a turning point, of racing, with greater aggression e-racing and virtual competitions. says Team Principal Brailsford. and more freedom. It’s about This included 2018 Tour de “The way the team has putting your heart on your sleeve France winner Geraint Thomas responded to adversity is and going for it.” livestreaming his attempt to ride something we're very proud of,” he That was certainly the case by the equivalent of a typical shift says. “Although it wasn’t to be in the time of the Giro d’Italia in of an NHS worker. He ended up the Tour de France this year, the October, particularly with the riding 12 hours a day for three response from the team to go on loss of Thomas to injury on the consecutive days, raising £360,000 the attack and race so aggressively second day. Tao Geoghegan Hart for the health service. was fantastic.” had been tied on time with the The postponed Tour de France “Becoming the Grenadiers race leader on the final day and in late August would be the was a big change for us and I went on to win it. “They raced inaugural race for the newly named think it helped us find our racing with real style and flair in what Grenadiers and mark the start spirit again. As a team, we’re very turned out to be our best ever of a new era. Despite not ending pragmatic and adaptable. We’ve Grand Tour where we won seven

AFTER LOCKDOWN with the same highs as last year, it discovered a more expansive style stages,” adds Brailsford. BACK IN THE SADDLE BACK

the south coast of England for an quickly put their 3D printers to altogether different summer of use and produce over 5,000 face Britannia sailing and preparation. shields for local health services. “It has been an incredibly “The fact that we as an rules the tough time for everybody organisation could chip in and around the world. For us as help at the local level was great,” a professional sports team it he says. “Everyone – the shore waves had a huge impact on our team, sailing team, design team, logistical programme and management team, and more – all our strategy around that,” took the opportunity to get stuck he America’s Cup is says Ainslie. “Logistically in and help, and that created a recognised as one of sailing’s and strategically, it has great feeling. We all felt proud that Ttoughest competitions, with been very challenging year we were able to help out.” a 170-year legacy that has so far but the team has done an In their pursuit of the America’s eluded a British winner. Sir Ben admirable job in terms Cup, often described as the Ainslie and INEOS TEAM UK of dealing with that Formula 1 of competitive sailing, are still hoping to rewrite the frustration, changing our it is perhaps fitting that the history books. plans and trying to be as Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team The competition is a feat efficient as we possibly has also able to help directly with of engineering, science and could be throughout the boat – christened Britannia determination that was that whole process.” – through the Mercedes Benz made even tougher given the Despite their hectic Applied Science division. coronavirus outbreak put paid schedule, the team “Mercedes F1 has helped hugely to many carefully laid plans. The felt it particularly on our technical preparation, onset of the pandemic affected important that not just of the boat but all the everything from training to they contribute to components – most particularly travel and forced the team to the fight against the foils and the manufacturing relocate from its base in Cagliari, COVID, he adds. process, which is incredibly

Images: C Gregory / OGC Nice Médias / Chris Auld Photography Ltd Photography Médias / Chris Auld Nice / OGC Images: C Gregory Sardinia, back to Portsmouth on They were able to detailed. They have been fantastic

16 The Vuelta a España the following month proved equally exciting, with some closely FOCUSED ON A LONG-TERM GOAL contested rides seeing the NEOS bought Lausanne Sport in young players and start to imprint a Grenadiers’ Richard Carapaz come November 2017, followed by OGC style of play that is technical on the second in what was the year’s INice in August 2019. The 2019/20 ground football with an emphasis of tightest margin of victory. season was a successful start to its attacking play with quick transitions,” “It was an epic season with all the broader football project says Bob says Ratcliffe. “It takes time but all big races going right down to the Ratcliffe, Head of Football at INEOS the successful clubs have established wire and three different winners Sport. “We saw promotion back to their own variant of playing DNA in each of the Grand Tours,” he the top division with Lausanne, we and it is our challenge to start says. “Whereas other sports may qualified for Europe in our first season establishing that.” have suffered because of COVID, with Nice, and our partner club Racing In November, Lausanne-Sport our season was concentrated into Club Abidjan (RCA) qualified for Africa opened a new 12,000 seat stadium a small window and was pretty full Champions League.” which was something else to celebrate. on. The racing was just brilliant.” The aim is to put both Nice and “It's a real auditorium built to a “As a sports team, you Lausanne on successful sustainable high Swiss standard and importantly, tend to mirror the values of footings, and that requires the we can now house all activities of your ownership. I think that’s development of young talent from the club there, so it’s a real home” definitely been a factor. We’ve across France and Switzerland and says Ratcliffe. “It’s just a shame that not only embraced the Grenadier more broadly, the pipeline of talent because of COVID we haven't got values of getting the job done, emerging from RCA. spectators in there yet but it's going to but that INEOS spirit – the grit, INEOS has now also appointed be a great venue for us going forward.” rigour and hunger of INEOS Souleymane Cisse as Director of “We believe the best way to compete and Sir Jim Ratcliffe himself – Football for Lausanne. He was the effectively in football is by continuing has filtered into the mentality visionary behind the development of to develop top young players. We've of the team. We’re now more RCA over the last 10 years. “It is very now got a robust scouting network adventurous, more expansive, special to partner with INEOS,” says and a great pipeline so that's a real and a little bit more about taking Cisse. “We received a lot of interest in positive for us.” risks and enjoying competition.” our academy from leading European “What we're doing with our football clubs but you can see the unique passion for sport and Eyeing success on and off the pitch in helping us go through that Africa that comes from Sir process,” he says. Jim Ratcliffe. I am convinced “They have also helped on some we now have the very best of the aerodynamics around the pathways for our young yacht including the sail and the players. The young player’s rig. Then, of course, reliability is brain is not a vase that we fill an issue for all technical sports but a wick that we light.” teams, including us, and being Like all sport businesses, able to learn from some of the football remains significantly Mercedes reliability processes has challenged with the had a big impact on the team.” persistence of COVID-19, While the pandemic has which will likely see the certainly not been conducive to absence of most fans for the preparing for arguably one of the current season. And with the biggest challenges in sailing, the early departure from European support from across INEOS and football, the difficult decision the other elite sports teams has was taken to ask Patrick Vieira been phenomenal, he adds. to step down as coach. “Being a part of that culture Nice have now appointed within the wider INEOS family a new head coach, Adrian has been very important to us Ursea, the experienced former and has helped us a lot as an Romanian international known for his teams is building them from the organisation,” says Ainslie. technical and analytical approach. He bottom up. This is a project and it’s “For us, the goal has always has significant experience with the going to time to get all the building been to win the America’s Cup for Nice players and has worked alongside blocks in place. We're not yet the Britain. As far as I am concerned leading European coaches. The target finished article but we're at the start it is unfinished business and, as for the remainder of this season is to of the journey,” he says. “There's still a Challenger of Record, we still continue climbing the table and secure lot of work to do to fulfil our ambitions need to achieve that goal." European competition once again. but we’re making good progress, even “We see Adrian being able to help if it may not always appear that way – further develop our predominantly but that’s football.”

17 SPORT/COMMUNITY

FORMULA ONE TEAM CHAMPIONS INEOS record-equalling seventh Driver Health and hygiene are vital Championship title, combined for sport, with the wellbeing with a Constructor’s title and of athletes paramount for A INEOS is now a one third shareholder of the F1 team the most-ever wins, podiums and peak performance, so in the poles, certainly made this a season to midst of a global pandemic, remember for Lewis Hamilton and the the partnership with INEOS Hygienics for the America’s Cup – helping with Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. was particularly welcome. everything from simulations and Among the other milestones, “Every single disruption and computer fluid dynamics to the design in February, they also formed a individuals falling ill, particularly of the foils. Wolff and his team have partnership with INEOS – adding to in overseas races, can be a real also been working with the INEOS the manufacturer’s growing group of problem for the team and can really Grenadiers to improve their cycling elite sports teams. set us back,” adds Toto Wolff, Team hardware and boost performance. “It’s been such an amazing start-up Principal and CEO of Mercedes-AMG In December, INEOS became a one of a relationship,” says reigning world Petronas F1 Team. “We have always third shareholder in the team, which is champion Hamilton. “Naturally, when set a benchmark within the industry owned in three equal parts by Daimler you have partners you want to have in terms of hygiene but INEOS AG, INEOS and Wolff. people that are truly passionate about Hygienics has taken us to a totally “The ethos and ambition is very the sport and are true racers at heart different level.” similar. We strive for the best; we because I think that just sets us up for During a severely disrupted season, know that it’s all about the people. a good working relationship.” the F1 engineers developed a new You can talk about the team but Just a few months later in August, state-of-the-art respiratory system in reality, you need every single the team lent its support to the official to help patients’ breathing and keep individual that stands behind it. We launch of INEOS' new Hygienics them out of intensive care. set our ambitions high but we are business, as Hamilton crossed the This past year, Mercedes-Benz able to have realistic expectations line and stood atop the winner’s Applied Science has also assisted and I think the values of our senior podium at the British Grand Prix. INEOS TEAM UK in its preparations leadership overlay perfectly.”

he team behind the Daily Mile had another very busy A GLOBAL VISION FOR Tyear in 2020, expanding the uptake in schools around the world. To date, more than 3.1m children at 12,000 schools in THE DAILY MILE 79 countries are running a mile every day. One third of schools in England are taking part, and Greater Manchester has become the first Daily Mile City. In addition, the Scottish government has appointed a National Daily Mile coordinator – as part of Scotland’s remit to be the first Daily Mile nation and embed the initiative across the life course, from nursery through to care homes, including workplaces and learning places such as schools, colleges and universities. One of the major benefits of The Daily Mile is its inclusivity as children who have mobility issues, for instance needing walkers or wheelchairs, can also take part. “We have seen a huge uptake in children with special educational needs,” says Elaine Wyllie is helping Elaine Wyllie, founder of The children worldwide improve their health and fitness Daily Mile. “Schools have really

Images: INEOS / LAT Images / Markus J. Feger Images: INEOS / LAT appreciated The Daily Mile’s

18 A UNITED INEOS PROVIDES COMMUNITY CARE o coincide with the launch of its Launched in April, 67 INEOS sites closer to their abusers than usual “Hands On!” programme – a participated, with 159 projects so this grant helped keep phone Tpledge to produce millions of supported in 15 countries. hotlines operating to ensure their bottles of hand sanitiser and distribute These included schemes to help calls for help were being answered them free to health workers during the elderly, disabled and vulnerable quickly. CHOICES also supported the early stages of the pandemic through food banks, mental health, children with distance learning to – INEOS also announced a £1m and domestic abuse support, as well continue their education, and set up international Community Fund. as hospices and care homes. The home offices for adults so they could Its aim was to offer support to organisations received contributions continue working while in shelter. local charities and services in its of up to £10,000 to support their work Another hugely worthwhile initiative neighbourhoods that were feeling at a critical time. was Mental Helse in Bamble, Norway, the strain during a time of crisis. INEOS received so many requests which runs a free anonymous helpline Coronavirus was not only threatening for help that the fund was fully offering much-needed comfort to people’s health and livelihoods but allocated by early July, just three those facing mental health difficulties. the very support networks that were months after its launch. INEOS’ contribution went towards its designed to help them through such Among them was Vineyard operating costs during a time when tough times. Anaheim, located near INEOS’ calls were climbing. Typically, these groups were either Carson site south of Los Angeles “The response has been fantastic suffering from reduced funding or in the US, which received money and it's been particularly heart- were being inundated with requests towards its food bank. The donation warming to get such good feedback, for help from those struggling. helped feed over 3,500 people a week not just from the charities themselves INEOS employees across all for three months. but from our employees who have global sites were invited to help Funds were also provided for told us how proud they are to work for identify worthy organisations in CHOICES for Victims of Domestic this company,” says INEOS Director of their communities, and submit Violence in Dublin, Ohio. COVID-19 Corporate Affairs, Tom Crotty. their applications for a grant. forced people to stay physically By Andy Brice

inclusivity. There are no hard-to- countries across three continents… Research with Imperial College reach groups that are excluded, and counting.” London has suggested that the nor any that under-represented. Even the COVID-19 pandemic scheme has been particularly For those children who are not has not stopped the scheme in its popular in urban and deprived particularly good or able at PE tracks – in fact just the opposite, areas, reaching out where other and sport, this is not a problem as it has boosted uptake. Mayock paid-for initiatives do not. This, for The Daily Mile. They can says another 707 schools from says Wyllie, is because The Daily still take part outdoors with across the globe signed up in Mile is free, simple and effective, their friends.” September alone, equalling and it empowers children to do it The programme’s spread around another 201,000 children. Schools for themselves. the world is impressive. John have recognised that they can Other independent research Mayock, trustee of The Daily Mile implement The Daily Mile safely by various organisations has Foundation, says that in order to in COVID times, given that it is also found that The Daily Mile expand the initiative across the outdoors with children able to improves children’s attentiveness globe, the Foundation is active in participate in their bubbles. and concentration throughout the building sustainable partnerships As communities emerged from school day. with like-minded organisations lockdown and schools reopened For the future, both Wyllie and who have the passion and expertise “Schools have during the course of the year, Mayock are hoping for more of to launch The Daily Mile in their really appreciated Mayock says it was essential to give the same. Wyllie says The Daily own countries. The Daily Mile’s teachers the confidence that The Mile is gathering momentum and “Our franchise/development inclusivity. There Daily Mile at schools, outdoors in the Foundation gets an approach model offers partners our support are no hard-to- the fresh air, could be managed or sees a development every before and after implementation, effectively, and was precisely what day. “The stakeholders are the allowing them freedom to promote reach groups that children needed to boost their children. We really need to focus and properly embed The Daily Mile are excluded, nor physical and mental health. going forwards on children’s right across their nation,” says Mayock. any that under- He adds that the partnership to have fun, and be healthy and “By working closely with teachers, represented” with television networks ITV and physically active. We want more public health authorities, parents Sky also helped to raise awareness partnerships that recommend that and government, our partners have through this difficult period, and make it happen for children. been hugely successful. The Daily Elaine Wyllie, noting that 28.7% of adults saw the The Daily Mile Foundation has a Mile is now being implemented by Founder of TV campaign at least once – that's global vision.” official partners in more than 20 The Daily Mile just under 15m people. By Elaine Burridge

19 Published March 2021

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Founded in 1998, UK-headquartered INEOS has grown to become one of the world’s largest chemical companies. It comprises 34 businesses, employs 26,000 people globally and achieved sales in excess of $61bn. The vertically- integrated chemicals producer has 194 manufacturing sites in 29 countries, and boasts a diversified portfolio serving the petrochemicals and oil & gas markets.

INEOS Group Headquarters 38 Hans Crescent Knightsbridge London SW1X 0LZ UK www.ineos.com @INEOS

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