Our Beliefs and Policies
Kaitiakitanga, Auaha and Kotahitanga
We are a New Zealand Company grounded in the three Māori principles of kaitiakitanga, auaha and kotahitanga. Kaitiakitanga is a broad term that describes our role in being good guardians of the natural environment – we must individually and collectively act as strong kaitiaki. Auaha describes the spirit of innovation that we bring to all we do. We know that we are always stronger with great partners, and kotahitanga reflects more than a simple partnership, speaking to unity and togetherness.
We operate in New Zealand in partnership with the Ngāti Tahu Tribal Lands Trust. Our Ohaaki Northern Plant and Ngāwhā Demonstration Plant are located on their lands, where the Trust holds mana whenua, or rights over the land, but they are much more than our landlords.
We operate these plants with their blessing, and we are proud to have their people on our team. We recognise the role, opportunity and responsibility we have in creating economic opportunities for our indigenous partners through our technologies.
Hear from our Ngāti Tahu kaitiaki
Environmental Conduct
We seek always to adhere to the highest standards of environmental care conduct. This extends throughout the project lifecycle, from initial concept through to design and we incorporate environmental outcomes into our build and operations.
We typically operate within the consent conditions of the geothermal power generators. As a result, we are acutely aware of the imperative for high levels of environmental performance. Our environmental performance record is strong, and we have the systems, processes and disciplines in place to keep it that way.
Carbon Accreditation
Several of Geo40’s low-carbon, colloidal silica products are sustainably recovered through the processing of geothermal fluids. Where Geo40’s products are sourced exclusively from geothermal fluid, they can be produced with a cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of generally less than 200kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) per metric ton of 30wt% product.
Some of Geo40’s colloidal silica products are produced using our new manufacturing process, which combines the processing of geothermal fluid with an intermediate silica product. The carbon footprint of these augmented products has not been assessed.
Geo40 has successfully developed sustainable technology for the recovery of low-carbon colloidal silica from geothermal fluids, adding value by reducing silica scaling in geothermal power stations. The technology is unique, scalable, and has been fully commercialised with the completion of Geo40’s Ohaaki Northern Plant located in New Zealand in early 2021.
In 2021, Geo40 engaged an independent environmental consultant, Start2see, a well-recognised industry expert in carbon accounting based in Melbourne, Australia. The resulting streamlined Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on Geo40’s world-first technology, including quantification of all direct and indirect emissions, helped to derive a high-level carbon footprint of those of the Company’s colloidal silica products produced solely from geothermal fluid.
In 2023, we took our carbon accounting process a step further and commissioned ThinkStep ANZ to perform a full environmental product declaration for one of our flagship products, our 1430Na colloidal silica. When manufactured solely from geothermal fluids, our 1430Na colloidal silica has a carbon footprint of 231 kg of CO2-eq. per metric ton produced (inclusive of packaging), across all Scope 1,2 & 3 emissions. For context, it is important to note that the 1430Na is one of our most energy-intensive products to manufacture.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON CURRENT MANUFACTURING CONDITIONS
In 2025, in order to meet increasing customer demand, Geo40 began a process of production augmentation, which includes the addition of intermediate silica product, alongside our regular geothermal fluid production. As a result, silica products manufactured by this method will have a cradle-to-gate carbon footprint higher than 200kg of CO2-eq. per metric ton of 30% weight product produced.
Please note that:
- The augmented manufacturing process is expected to retain a lower carbon footprint than conventional silica manufacturing methods, though this method is not currently qualified under our carbon footprint LCA or existing EPD.
- Augmented batches contain a mix of geothermal colloidal silica and the intermediate silica additive, and the final carbon footprint will depend on batch-specific inputs and energy use.
- Our EPD is only applicable to Geo40 1430Na manufactured entirely from geothermal fluid, and is available on request, on a case-by-case basis.
Conventionally manufactured colloidal silica is generally very energy-intensive, typically made by melting quartz sand in a blast furnace to form sodium silicate as a feedstock (there are other methods). We believe that this manufacturing method gives rise to carbon-intensive colloidal silicas. Definitive published cradle-to-gate data is scarce, particularly across all Scope 1-3 categories, but information on the carbon footprint of sodium silicate as feedstock is readily available. Based on publicly available industry information and internal assessments, we understand that our manufacturing methods offer customers a lower carbon footprint option. We encourage our partners to seek and critically review full life-cycle emissions data as part of their procurement diligence.
Geo40 is working to be impactful in both traditional and emerging markets. In traditional markets such as refractory applications, precision steel casting, or construction admixtures, Geo40 silicas offer buyers a proven, lower-carbon choice. Emerging markets offer the opportunity to use low-carbon silicas to replace less sustainable alternatives. Examples include coatings, where colloidal silica can improve performance characteristics such as weather resistance or adhesion, and construction applications where colloidal silica can improve concrete characteristics including density and permeability reduction.
We work closely with our customers so they can utilise our sustainable low-carbon silica products to improve their environmental performance and further their contribution to decarbonisation. Geo40 is committed to the highest standards of corporate responsibility and has adopted a formal Environmental, Social, and Governance framework.
Disclaimer: Carbon footprint values provided reflect specific manufacturing conditions. Geo40 does not guarantee that all products meet Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) criteria unless otherwise declared at the time of sale. Carbon data may vary between production batches depending on feedstock, energy use, and supply chain inputs. Customers are advised to request specific documentation when carbon performance is critical to use.
Corporate Code of Conduct
The Geo40 Corporate Code of Conduct was issued effective 19th December 2015 and is amended from time to time, as appropriate.
All Geo40 employees are expected to embrace the principles of the Geo40 Code of Conduct. It is our commitment to ethical excellence and provides a cultural framework that defines how Geo40, and our staff do business: with integrity and the most professional way that we can.
