‘Sustainable thinking – and above all sustainable action – is in our DNA’

For the third consecutive year, Nobian has received an EcoVadis Platinum rating, recognising its excellent sustainability performance. In addition, the company is, so far, the organisation in the Netherlands to have entered into legally binding tailor made agreements with the government to accelerate the achievement of national climate targets. ‘With support from the government, we aim to reduce our CO₂ emissions to almost zero by 2030 – ten years earlier than planned. This also puts us twenty years ahead of the Paris Climate Agreement, which sets 2050 as its target year. Sustainable thinking – and especially sustainable action – is embedded in our DNA. Guided by our mission ‘Grow Greener Together’, we want to grow greener alongside our partners and be one of the most sustainable chemical companies in Europe,’ says Peter de Haan, site manager at Nobian.

Nobian is a European leader in salt, essential chemicals and storage caverns. The company extracts salt in the province of Groningen, in the Twente region and in Denmark. It uses its expertise in salt production and electrochemistry to convert pure salt into key chemicals needed for the production of a wide range of everyday materials, such as synthetic materials and plastics. These chemicals contribute to creating a more sustainable living environment. Nobian’s head office is located in Amersfoort, and since autumn 2024 its research department has been housed in the multi tenant building The Gallery on the University of Twente campus in Enschede. The Gallery was acquired in 2020 by the ASR Dutch Science Park Fund.

Visibly present on campus
‘Because The Gallery was expanding, we were the first candidates for relocating our research department. We met the profile and conditions set by ASR,’ says Bart Zwijnenburg, manager R&D at Nobian. ‘In November 2024, we moved our research and development activities – and around 20 researchers – to the campus in Enschede. It’s a fantastic location where we are visibly present. The building is spacious and open, with a lot of glass. We can look outside and, conversely, others can look in. We are surrounded by an innovative and inspiring environment. Even though we haven’t been here long, we have already connected with the University of Twente. For example, we have entered into a collaboration with the University and battery developer Exergy Storage in the STARBATCH project, which focuses on developing a new battery technology that could support the energy transition.’

Interaction with the environment
Bart continues: ‘We currently have three interns: two from the University of Twente and one from Saxion University of Applied Sciences. At our previous location, interns were rare. This demonstrates the interaction with the environment we are in. Students see our company and are both literally and figuratively drawn to it – also due to our sustainability principles, an increasingly  conscious choice for people choosing a placement or employer. The aim is to further strengthen our collaboration with the University of Twente, as well as with other knowledge institutions and businesses in the region.’
Making business processes more sustainable and delivering impact
Nobian faces various internal and external challenges. ‘We want to further improve the sustainability of all our business processes. With the energy transition in mind, we are electrifying our production processes. For the materials transition, we are investing in the reuse of raw materials. Additionally, we are focusing on recycling rare metals from electrolysers. We are working with several partners to recover these materials and reuse them in electrode production. We want to contribute to a sustainable society in many ways. Through our vision and mission, we support several Sustainable Development Goals, including promoting health and well being by reducing pollution. We are committed to affordable and sustainable energy by using renewable sources. We provide good employment opportunities and embrace innovative initiatives that support a more sustainable industry. As mentioned, we invest in material reuse through which we aim to contribute to responsible production. Furthermore, we strive to combat climate change by reducing our CO₂ emissions – and ultimately eliminating them entirely.’

Green and responsible chemistry
According to Peter and Bart, the biggest challenges for Nobian lie in circumstances beyond their direct control. ‘Geopolitical developments, as well as the current economic climate – the chemical industry is facing a difficult period. And while we are not actively recruiting at the moment, we will need sufficient qualified people in the long term. Given the current – and likely future – tightness in the labour market, that will be a challenge. Finally, we see increasing complexity in obtaining certain permits, such as those for salt extraction. But there is no lack of ambition. Through our ‘Grow Greener Together’ programme, we remain fully committed to contributing to a world in which chemistry is entirely green and responsible.’