A new guiding principle for the plastic & chemical industry
Most chemicals and plastics are carbon-based. So, when it comes to transforming the chemical and plastics industry, talking about ‘defossilisation’ is more accurate than ‘decarbonisation’.
Instead of replacing carbon, we need to manage where it comes from and where it ends up. The embedded carbon becomes a limited and valuable resource that needs someone to take care of it: a carbon steward.
A new whitepaper released today by Systemiq and Neste serves as a starting point for a more comprehensive dialogue and action-driven approach on carbon stewardship among industry, feedstock providers, policymakers, science and society. In ‘Carbon stewardship – A new guiding principle for the plastic and chemical industry’, we present the opportunities, challenges and invention points for a chemical industry implementing carbon stewardship
Download this whitepaper to learn about the challenges and enablers for the chemical industry as a carbon steward:
- Both circular and renewable carbon are needed to unlock the transition of the chemical industry to a net-zero system
- Collaboration with biomass producers and ensuring sourcing criteria will improve the sustainability performance of biobased polymers and chemicals
- Reducing end-of-life emissions is an underestimated pillar of a carbon neutral chemical industry
- A full cradle-to-grave life cycle analysis highlights the favourable climate impact of chemicals and plastics based on renewable carbon
- A common terminology will help to communicate the benefits of a transformed chemical industry
Carbon is embedded in everything we produce and consume, whether fossil or renewable. Today, most of it ends up in the atmosphere, fuelling the climate crisis.
The plastic and chemical industry must embrace end-to-end carbon stewardship as a new principle, turning the challenge into an opportunity to achieve not just net zero, but net positive impact.
Sophie Herrmann, Partner, Systemiq Germany
This paper was developed by Systemiq and Neste and supported by knowledge partners Nova Institute and Carbon Minds. We are now inviting companies along the plastics value chain to collaborate and to join us on this journey toward carbon stewardship.
