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Facts and figures
11/09  IndustryEconomicsMore than 20 million tonnes of chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen are produced each year at 69 manufacturing locations across Europe. The sector employs about 39,000  people in 22 countries. Almost 2,000,000 jobs in Europe are related to chlorine. .The chlor-alkali sector underpins more than 55% of European chemical industry turnover (2007: almost 740 billion euro). Chlorine is produced by leading electricity through brine. Electricity is used as a raw material and as such cannot be substituted. The average energy consumption is about 3.4 MWh/t of chlorine produced. Electricity represents up to 50% of the cash cost of production. This makes the chlor-alkali industry an energy-intensive industry. Chlorine-based construction materials like polyurethane insulation and PVC products help save energy and reduce CO2 emissions, delivering part of the solution to the climate change. There are no direct greenhouse gas emissions in the chlorine manufacturing process, but depending of the fuel used there are CO2 emissions related to the generation of electricity. The EU and global legislation dealing with climate change and greenhouse gas emissions could significantly affect the competitiveness of the European chlor-alkali industry compared to producers located in regions which are not subject to similar climate change measures.
Environment Emissions of chlorinated organic chemicals from plants to air have been cut 50% since 2001 and to water by 69%. Mercury (Hg) emissions have been reduced 97% since 1977. In 1998, the Western European industry committed to a voluntary emissions target of 1g/tonne/chlorine capacity on a national basis by 2007 with no individual plant exceeding 1.5g/t capacity. Emissions now stand at 0.92g Hg/t chlorine capacity (2008). Eastern European producers have committed to the same target. About 94% of all chlorine manufactured in Western Europe is used or converted to other products on the same site. The small amount of chlorine that is moved is mainly transported by rail. Whenever possible, plants are placed together with other processing facilities at the same location.
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Health More than 90% of European drinking water is made safe with the help of chlorine, which disinfects right up to the tap. Chlorine plays a key role in controlling pathogens such as typhoid, cholera and diarrhoea. Globally, up to 1.6 million children die each year of diarrhoea caused by waterborne microbes (WHO, 2007). PVC plastic made with chlorine is used in 25% of medical devices. These include blood bags, sterile tubing, heart catheters and prosthetics. Most medicines, including many life-saving drugs, are synthesised using chlorine chemistry. Chlorine is used in household bleach, disinfectants and antiseptics to combat a wide range of microbes in homes, hospitals, swimming pools, restaurants and other public places.
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Public safety Chlorine decontaminates public water supplies damaged by natural disasters, such as floods, tornadoes and earthquakes. Protective equipment used by the police, fire and ambulance services is made with materials dependent on chlorine. Examples: bulletresistant vests, face shields and helmets. Communications equipment and components used by emergency services are also made with chlorine-based materials. Examples: radios, mobile telephones and microprocessors.
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 Quality of life
Consumer products that depend on chlorine chemistry include toiletries and cosmetics, contact lenses, computers, televisions and compact discs. About half of crop protection chemicals used to boost yields and quality are based on chlorine chemistry. Many leisure activities rely on equipment made using chlorine: soccer balls, tents, waterproof clothing, skateboards, tennis rackets and skis. Automotive components using chlorine include upholstery, bumpers and mats, dashboards, fan and alternator belts, hoses, gaskets and seals..
Chlorine in natureChlorine is the 10th most abundant of the 15 elements which make up 99.5% of the human body. Chlorinated compounds are found in our blood, skin, and teeth and, as hydrochloric acid, in our digestive system. Chlorine is one of the most common elements in nature; more than 2,300 naturallyoccurring chlorine compounds have been identified. Key natural sources of organochlorines are the oceans, forest fires, volcanoes and living organisms including bacteria, fungi, plants and marine organisms..  The sea is the source of life. Salt - a compound of sodium and chlorine - makes up 2.9% of the world's oceans. Salt brine is the main raw material to produce chlorine, but less than a third of salt production stems from seawater. Most comes from rock salt mines.
For other interesting facts on the chlor-alkali industry, go to our frequently asked questions.
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during the manufacturing process, although the end product is chlorine-free. Since the late 1970s there has been a sharp increase in use of the chlorine-free plastics polyurethane and polycarbonate.