Energy
Net Zero

Tackling Climate Change Through Chemistry

The chemical industry is at the forefront of the net zero revolution听

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Formula for success听

The industry of industries:听Chemical products make up over 95% of all manufactured goods - vital for food and medicines or materials for mobile phones and electric vehicle batteries to name a few.听

The problem solver: Chemical sciences are key to solving the world鈥檚听current challenges.

The critical enabler:听We are a staunch promoter of innovative听solutions and ambitious targets to ensure net zero for all sectors.

The economic contributor: Critical to the Government鈥檚听levelling-up agenda, we have a highly skilled and wellrewarded听workforce, in many pivotal locations across the听country. We provide over 500k jobs, adding more than 拢18bn听of value to the UK economy.

Delivering the solutions听

What we need from government听

Design a long-term, joined-up net zero policy framework

Carbon pricing is effective when it creates certainty for investors听that new technologies will yield a return. This requires clear,听consistent, long-term policies, a predictable price signal, support听for innovative clean technologies and most importantly, a听level playing field with competitors internationally.

Empower energy and resource efficiency

Continuously improving the efficient use of听energy and materials is a critical driver in the听creation of a net zero and circular economy,听with investments helping support the听transition.

Protect industry through its transition

Effective, long-term and predictable carbon听leakage protection will be fundamental, as UK听businesses adopt manufacturing methods that听come with a 鈥榞reen premium鈥�. Essential elements听include minimising non-wholesale energy costs and a听level-playing field on carbon pricing.

Build a world-leading net zero energy system

Access to secure, reliable and competitively priced sources of zero听carbon energy to allow UK manufacturers to switch to clean fuels,听the roll-out of clean electricity coupled with investible hydrogen and听carbon capture and storage business mode will be key.

Lay foundations for new circular economy

Reliable access to sustainable raw materials听that will form the basis of a new circular听economy, are essential to enable the sector听to develop the advanced materials needed听for a climate friendly world.

Simplify the policy mix

There has been a proliferation of industrial听energy and climate change policy over听time. Multiple overlapping policies complicate听and undermine investment decision-making听and can create perverse incentives.听Streamlining these schemes will support the UK鈥檚听decarbonisation, making it simpler for businesses to invest in听the UK.

Case Studies

The Hydrogen Climate Solution - Johnson Matthey听

How are we achieving net-zero?

The HyNet project is paving the way for a net zero economy by听developing the UK鈥檚 first low carbon hydrogen plant. The facility听will produce 80kt of hydrogen per year, and capture 600,000听tonnes of CO鈧� 鈥� the equivalent of taking over 250,000 petrol or听diesel powered cars off the road.

How are we improving everyday lives?

HyNet will meet the major challenge of reducing carbon dioxide听missions, providing low carbon power for industry, transport and听low carbon heating for our homes and businesses.

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Bringing sustainable fashion to life - Dow

How are we achieving net-zero?

Dow is helping bring sustainable fashion to life without sacrificing听colour or quality. Dow鈥檚 treatment process uses 90% less process听chemicals and therefore a 60% lower carbon footprint. Plus, it鈥檚听helping the planet, using 50% less water and up to 40% less听energy.

How are we improving everyday lives?

Dow鈥檚 sustainability mission has a focus to lessen the strain on听our precious water resources.

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Enabling CO2 savings for cars and aircraft - Victrex

How are we achieving net-zero?

Annual CO2 savings of over 80,000 tonnes in European cars andcnearly 100,000 tonnes in global aerospace are being saved thankscto light-weight, long-lasting and sustainable polymers. Weightsavingchelps to reduce fuel use and consequently improves CO2 emissions across major fleets of aircraft.

How are we improving听everyday lives?

Looking to make more听sustainable aircraft over the听long-term, making it faster,听lighter and cheaper.

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UK鈥檚 largest Carbon Capture听and Utilisation Plant - TATA

How are we achieving net-zero?

Tata Chemicals Europe has invested 拢20m in building of UK鈥檚听largest Carbon Capture and Utilisation Plant in Northwich,听reducing its emissions by 11% and enabling net zero听manufacturing of one of its key products, sodium bicarbonate.

How are we improving everyday听lives?

Exported to over 60 countries听globally, sodium bicarbonate is听used in many everyday听products in from听pharmaceuticals, cooking,听to fire extinguishers, personal听care and many others.

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More facts

  • The chemical industry is committed to delivering more sustainable听solutions for a cleaner, greener society.
  • We are an essential enabler and driver of net zero for all sectors, especially automotive,听transportation and pharmaceuticals.
  • Not only are chemicals essential components to energy-saving products but cutting emissions and听transforming chemical production have a huge impact globally and can transform听the world around us.
  • We have an important role to play in moving to low-carbon听economies 鈥� providing coatings for solar panels, lightweight听plastics to reduce vehicles鈥� energy consumption and听insulating materials for buildings.
  • It is through our industry鈥檚 innovation and technology听that will allow other companies and sectors to听decarbonise, deliver the UK鈥檚 net zero ambitions and听ultimately, combat climate change.