Water & Wastewater

ICL regards water, especially freshwater, as a high-value natural resource. Several of ICL’s sites are in water-stressed regions, and the Company is aware of the need to treat this natural resource with care. Water conservation is therefore an inherent part of ICL’s business culture. ICL production facilities maintain various water conservation projects, including using brackish water and recycling wastewater. \

We expect potable water to become scarcer in the future, across the globe. As water scarcity becomes a pressing global issue due to climate change and other factors, we expect greater and stricter regulation of water consumption and wastewater quality. We invest in water conservation, and we will dedicate additional resources to enhance our water efficiency and wastewater quality at some of our sites.

Several of our major production sites are in Israel. Israel manages its water resources efficiently, and with large investments, has achieved water supply security. Over the last two decades, desalination plants and Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants have become major contributors to the country’s potable water resources, thereby reducing potable water scarcity and water stress risks in the country. In addition, institutional and regulatory reforms and significant development of non-conventional water sources, such as treated wastewater and desalination, water production capacity in Israel exceeds demand. Industrial facilities, such as our sites in Sodom, are allowed to use non-potable water where possible.

In 2022, ICL reduced its freshwater withdrawal by 3.3% vs. 2021, in accordance with its goal. In 2023, ICL has set new annual water saving targets of 4% savings of freshwater and 2% savings of low-quality water, vs. the previous year.

Water is the most widely consumed natural resource and the single most essential foundation of human existence. Clean, safe drinking water is scarce. Less than one percent of the water on earth is available for human consumption. Water conservation is an inherent part of ICL’s business culture, as the Company continuously strives to decrease its use of water, especially potable water. Where possible, the Company’s production sites use brackish water for production processes or other water not suitable as potable water. Thanks to Israel’s desalination and Reverse Osmosis plants, the country provides a self-regulating system that supplies more than 1.6 billion cubic meters of water to all users in Israel, including around 8 million consumers. With this in mind, it allows ICL to place particular focus on going above and beyond for its own water conservation strategies. The water that is circulated throughout Israel, is self-financing and places Israel as the front runners in water conservation and management, as it mitigates the possibility of becoming water vulnerable.

With respect to Board level oversight, our Climate, Sustainability and Community Relations Committee (CSC Committee) is responsible for ICL’s water management, including oversight of achieving water savings targets, implementing water management programs & policies, and overall water stewardship and performance. In addition, our Audit & Accounting Committee oversees ERM water-related aspects.

Regarding executive management level oversight, the Potash Division’s President is responsible for ICL’s overall water management (as acting operational officer in this respect) and has functional and operational oversight over water management strategy and performance in all ICL.

ICL’s OEC (Operational Executive Committee) – Including all OMT Sustainability and Global risk leaders and chaired by our Potash Division President, coordinates all of ICL’s water-related topics, including risk management, and reports periodically to the GEC Sustainability Committee.

OMT (Operational Management Team) – each division holds a monthly meeting to discuss operational performance that includes water related topics, such as resources and usage, current & future balance, operation vs. targets, cross division initiatives to optimize water consumption and others. OMT leaders (at the VP level) report to the OEC on a quarterly basis.

Site Managers collect data on a site level and provide it regarding actual performance and planned consumption, as well as implementing the water optimization policy, suggesting new initiatives and implementing site relevant KPI’s and programs.

As major production sites install new air emission filters and scrubbers that require water as part of their standard operation, ICL expects its water consumption to increase somewhat in the next few years. ICL is actively mapping potential water-saving projects, especially concerning freshwater. The ACE program, which was focused on energy-saving projects, has been given a broader mandate and is now focused on water and carbon emissions as well.

ICL management has declared water reduction goals across all our operations and programs to reduce water consumption have been initiated.

We are taking a systematic approach to reduce our water consumption across our global operations. ESG KPIs and targets, including water reduction targets, have been embedded in executive measures for success and financial performance-based benefits for key executives.

Water Withdrawl - m3 (millions)

		2021	2022
Water withdrawal by source	Water withdrawal by quality	All areas	All areas
Surface water (total)		15	13.5
	Freshwater	1.5	1.4
	Other water	13.5	12.1
Groundwater (total)		21	26.2
	Freshwater	1.7	1.8
	Other water	19.3	24.4
Groundwater - fossil water (total)		10.3	9.2
	Freshwater	0	0
	Other water	10.3	9.2
Sea water (total)		5.6	4.1
	Freshwater	0	0
	Other water	5.6	4.1
Third party water (total)		17.1	16.4
	Freshwater	17	16.4
	Other water	0.1	0.1
Total		69	69.5
	Freshwater	20.2	19.6
	Other water	48.8	49.9

*Note: In 2021, we completed the acquisition of two companies in Brazil. As this is a relatively new acquisition, the environmental data (GHG emission, energy consumption, etc.) published in regards to 2021 does not include data from these sites. In the current (2022) report, the 2022 environmental data from these production sites is fully included.

Freshwater withdrawal includes grid/tap water and potable well water.

Non-Potable or alternative water consumption includes brine, brackish water, sea water, river water and rainwater.

ICL sites use alternative water sources wherever it is feasible. Alternative water accounts for nearly 72% of the water that ICL production sites use.

Water Intensity

	2021	2022
m3/$million	9,923	6,938

Freshwater Intensity

m3/$ millions	2021	2022
	2,909	1,954

Water Recycled or Reused

(million m3)	2021	2022
	6.8	6.7

For further information on water risks see page 97 to ICL 2022 Annual Report.

High quality fresh water consumption includes grid/tap water and potable well water.

Other water consumption includes: brine, brackish water, sea water, river water and rainwater.

Note: All figures exclude annual water withdrawal from the Dead Sea, which is regarded as raw material.

Overall, ICL’s global water withdrawal (potable and non-potable) nearly stayed the same, with only a slight increase between 2021 and 2022, even though ICL acquired two major companies whose water withdrawal data was integrated into ICL’s overall data for the first time in 2022. In addition, and although the slight increase in the global water withdrawal, there was a reduction of 3.3% in freshwater withdrawal. ICL’s 2022 Water Intensity was 6,938 m3/$million and the water intensity trend was 30% intensity reduction vs last year.

In 2022, one incident occurred of non-compliance associated with water quality permits, standards and regulations. For information regarding the unexpected flow of brine at the outskirts of the Tze’elim fan and the coordinated efforts with the authorities to minimize the flow’s impact and prevent its recurrence, including the successful installation of sealing sheets and other intermediary actions carried out by the Company, see Mitigating Disruption.

Wastewater

Following ICL’s acquisition in 2021 of two major companies in Brazil with multiple manufacturing sites, their water discharge data was integrated with ICL’s data only in 2022 for the first time. In addition, there was an increase in water discharge to the North Sea from ICL Boubly and an increase in water discharge through the “collector” at our mining site in Spain.

Discharge (million m3)	2021	2022
	16.8	18.7

Wastewater & Effluent Treatment in ICL Rotem

ICL Rotem is implementing a master plan for wastewater treatment, with the principal goal of reducing effluent quantities by converting some effluents into products, recycling wastewater, reducing water consumption, treating/neutralizing wastewater and restoring wastewater ponds. The plan currently includes additional wastewater streams created by air emission purification processes required by the Israel Clean Air Law. For more information regarding ICL Rotem’s wastewater treatment plan and gypsum storage ponds, see p 109 in ICL’s 2022 Annual Report.

Zero Discharge @ YPH JV

Since 2009, YPH has conducted a major project designed to eliminate all wastewater output. This “zero discharge” has been achieved via cascade and grade utilization, recycling collection, reuse systems and other actions. Despite the addition of ICL China YPH JV to the Company’s reporting scope in 2016, total ICL wastewater amounts remained almost the same throughout the years 2016-2017 compared to 2015. This has also enabled a significant decrease in wastewater intensity resulting from phosphate production.

6.3

By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally

12.6

Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle

Sustainability Reporting Disclosures:

Disclosure: SASB RT-CH-140a.1.

Disclosure: SASB RT-CH-140a.2

Disclosure: SASB RT-CH-140a.3

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