Enriching water ecosystems with nitrogen and phosphorus triggers unnaturally fast growth in plants (and sometimes a proliferation of algae). The resulting accumulation of organic matter degrades the water and habitat quality, a phenomenon known as ‘eutrophication’.

The chemicals, plastics and life sciences industry has reduced its impact on water ecosystems by cutting its specific nitrogen and phosphorous releases by more than 75% since 2001. The reported data show the releases of nitrogen and phosphorous into surface water. Despite the increase of the production activity, the absolute nitrogen and phosphorous emissions seem to stabilise in the last decennia.

Nitrogen emissions in the chemicals and life sciences industry result mainly from the production of nitrogen-containing organic or inorganic chemicals like fertilisers, aniline (used to produce polyurethane) and caprolactam (used to produce nylon). Phosphorous releases originate mainly from the production of inorganic chemicals like mineral fertilisers.