# Vitamins: Emissions

Solvents, chromium waste and long energy-hungry syntheses

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/emissions/

What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint per tonne, split by lifecycle phase (feedstock, production, movement, use, end of life), the global total, other environmental impacts, levers and low-carbon routes, India's position, and where the investment opportunity lies.

Per kg of vitamin, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: not published. Global total: not published.

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | not published | – | petrochemical intermediates; maize glucose for fermented vitamins |  | indicative |
| **Production / process** | not published | – | many reaction and purification steps, solvents, steam; coal-based energy in China |  | indicative |
| **Movement** | small | – | container shipping |  | indicative |
| **Use** | not applicable | – | consumed by animals and people |  | not applicable |
| **End of life** | not applicable | – | metabolised |  | not applicable |

#### Other environmental impacts

Solvent and chromium wastes (vitamin K3), process safety incidents, wastewater from fermentation.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Fermentation routes to replace synthesis (e.g. fermented vitamin B2 replaced chemical routes; indicative)
- Renewable energy at Chinese chemical parks
- Solvent recovery and green chemistry in A and E syntheses

#### India

India's vitamin footprint sits mostly in imports; its B12 and folic acid plants are part of its pharma base (indicative).
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

#### Low-carbon routes

| Route | Intensity | Cost premium | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Precision fermentation of vitamins A and E precursors** | not published | not published | research and pilot (indicative) | indicative |

 For a climate investor Vitamins matter to a climate fund mainly as a supply-security and nutrition story, not a large emissions source. The investable angle in India is domestic production of imported vitamins (A, E, D3, C) and fermentation-based routes, supported by bulk-drug incentives. What has to be true: cost parity with Chinese integrated producers, which currently earn high margins (NHU's net margin about 30% in 2025, derived).

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/vitamins/links/index.md)