Conduct a life cycle assessment to understand the environmental impact of their product.
SUL4R-PLUS Case Study
SUL4R-PLUS manufactures a premium calcium sulphate fertilizer, SUL4R-PLUS, which delivers crops with essential nutrients throughout the growing season. A key component of the product is flue gas desulphurization gypsum, which is a byproduct created when coal-fired power plants are scrubbed of harmful sulphur dioxide gases from smokestacks. By transforming this waste into fertilizer, SUL4R-PLUS gives it new life and a valuable role in agriculture.
The company partnered with Tunley Environmental to understand the environmental impact of SUL4R-PLUS compared to conventional ammonium sulphate. Tunley Environmental's Senior Scientist and Carbon Co-Lead, Dr Nathan Wood conducted and assisted in a detailed one-year study, Tunley evaluated the product’s cradle-to-gate carbon footprint, its effect on crop biomass, and its potential to enhance soil carbon sequestration.
The results showed that SUL4R-PLUS has a cradle-to-gate carbon footprint around 68% lower than conventional ammonium sulphate, with field use resulting in net greenhouse gas removals of approximately 63 kg CO2e per acre per crop cycle, when compared to croplands that received no SUL4R-PLUS fertilizer. This benefit is largely driven by increased biomass production, which can incorporate more carbon into the soil over time, while also supporting higher yields. This study highlights how SUL4R-Plus offers a practical solution for farmers seeking both productivity and environmental sustainability.
Client feedback:
“Tunley's expertise has been extremely valuable throughout this process. The team was really eager to learn about our products, processes, and data, and to make sure everything was accurately represented in the best possible way. There are really only upsides to better understanding products and processes, so I would certainly encourage anyone to measure a carbon footprint of their product and conduct a life cycle assessment.”