TOP 4 PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

What do you see as the most important approach to sustainability in the chemical industry?

That is the question! And we asked our LinkedIn Followers to share their views in a recent poll.

Here are the POLL RESULTS & KEY FACTS on the industry efforts already taken toward each of these Top 4 Approaches to Sustainability.

?#1 CARBON NEUTRALITY AND MANAGEMENT (#1 with 40% votes)

Carbon neutrality has become a mission everyone wants to accomplish by 2050. After all, there is no Planet B!

Decarbonization of the chemical industry requires a transformation of the sources of energy, raw materials, and structure of the sector. Changing consumer attitude, activism, and the positive impact of reduced mobility and industry on the environment is apparently making this change for chemical industry players quite urgent. Embracing a low-carbon future also assures their long-term viability.

Here is how we see the industry planning and putting their goals into action:

?? ExxonMobil Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050 is backed by a comprehensive approach to develop detailed emission-reduction roadmaps for major facilities and assets

?? Last year Chemours announced that it is using a holistic approach to address direct emissions from operations and indirect emissions from electricity and other energy sources

?? Cabot intends to follow the methodology established by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) to set interim greenhouse gas reduction targets

?? LyondellBasell has developed a strategy to reduce its emissions footprint by 30% until 2030 with the goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050

Similar goals have been set by PTT Global Chemical, Unilever, Aramco, Sumitomo Chemical among hundreds of others…

?#2 RENEWABLE INGREDIENTS (a very close second with 36% votes)

Renewable essentially means derived from renewable sources such as agricultural feedstock, agricultural waste, organic waste products, biomass, and microorganisms. These in general have a lower carbon footprint and can be a substitute to conventional petrochemicals.

According to Research and Markets, the global market for renewable chemicals is projected to reach USD 87.8 billion by 2027. This is backed by the fact that consumers are increasingly seeking products with natural or renewable ingredients with enhanced performance qualities or environmental benefits.?That is why we see key players making the shift to adapt to this rising need.

?? L’Oréal to have 95% of its ingredients as sustainable, renewable by 2030

?? P2 Science recently launched bio-derived hair care ingredient which is part of the CitroComplex product line (a P2’s Plant a Forest initiative), where P2 plants a tree for every kilogram of product sold

?? BASF introduces a wheat protein-derived oral care product as part of its ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainability

?? Evonik launches isophorone products made from 100% renewable acetone

?? Matrìca to supply LANXESS with bio-based raw materials from vegetable oils which LANXESS will use to manufacture a new series of industrial preservatives

…and many more such developments showcase how biobased and renewable ingredients are moving in to replace synthetic and petrochemical-based ingredients.

#3 ENERGY-EFFICIENT MANUFACTURING & APPLICATION (18% votes)

The chemical industry has been energy-intensive – be it feedstock processing, ingredient manufacturing, or even application processes. A growing feature today is to reduce energy usage at every level. The chemical industry has achieved tremendous efficiency gains by introducing new breakthrough processes. For example, creating products that enable energy savings, such as using LED lamps in the radiation curing process, development of adhesives, IR pigments, and lightweight plastics reducing energy consumption and emission, particularly in automotive and building & construction industries.

Some of the key areas of efficient energy use and responsible energy consumption include (but are not limited to):

?? Reducing energy consumption in highly integrated distillation columns

?? Transitioning to renewable energy and promoting industrial waste or water for energy generation

?? Enabling coating or adhesive curing at lower temperatures

?? Innovating material solutions for better energy saving in building and construction – plastic foam insulation, heat reflective paints, etc.

?? Continual weight reduction of materials to improve material and energy efficiency in automotive and thus, reducing carbon emissions

#4 UNIQUE AND NEW ALTERNATIVE FEEDSTOCKS (6% votes)

The depletion of fossil feedstock reserves in addition to increasing CO2 emission impact on the environment has necessitated a search for alternative feedstocks for a long time already! Feedstocks from alternative sources, such as agricultural, urban, or industrial wastes, marine, algae & seaweed, etc. are now increasingly explored and used for raw materials production. As the bio-based raw materials process continues to call for improvement to obtain higher yields and fewer by-products, there are alternative feedstock resources worth watching. Here is a sampling....

?? Coffee waste to develop automotive parts

?? Urban waste to produce bio-solvents and bio-plastics

?? Increased popularity of upcycling ingredients to produce cosmetics raw materials

?? Other resources such as CO (carbon monoxide) or CO2 (carbon dioxide) are being explored

We can see a plethora of developments today. What is going to be interesting is to see how the industry continues to innovate alternative sustainable sources for chemical feedstock generation.?

Thanks for reading SpecialChem's wrap-up on the TOP 4 PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY.

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