Key Takeaways
- The global chemicals industry accounted for 5.7% of total global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, with Scope 1 and 2 emissions totaling around 1.5 GtCO2e.
- Between 2008 and 2019, the U.S. chemical sector reduced direct GHG emissions by 33% while increasing production by 26%.
- European chemical companies achieved a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions per ton of product from 1990 to 2020.
- The global chemical industry consumed 12% of world primary energy in 2021, with 40% from renewables in leading firms.
- U.S. chemical manufacturing energy intensity dropped 45% from 1974-2020.
- European chemical producers sourced 25% of energy from renewables in 2022.
- The chemical industry recycled 12 million tons of plastics in 2022, achieving a 15% recovery rate globally.
- U.S. chemical sector diverted 95% of hazardous waste from landfills in 2021.
- CEFIC reports EU chemical industry recycled 60% of non-product output waste in 2022.
- The global chemical industry withdrew 150 billion cubic meters of water in 2020.
- U.S. chemical sector water use intensity fell 70% since 1980.
- European chemical companies recycled 75% of process water in 2022.
- 30% of new chemical products launched in 2022 were bio-based or sustainable.
- Green chemistry principles adopted in 50% of EU chemical R&D budgets.
- BASF developed 100% bio-based polyols for foams, reducing fossil use 30%.
Despite major emissions reductions, the chemicals industry remains a significant global polluter.
Emissions Reduction
- The global chemicals industry accounted for 5.7% of total global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, with Scope 1 and 2 emissions totaling around 1.5 GtCO2e.
- Between 2008 and 2019, the U.S. chemical sector reduced direct GHG emissions by 33% while increasing production by 26%.
- European chemical companies achieved a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions per ton of product from 1990 to 2020.
- BASF reported a 23% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) in 2022 compared to the 2018 baseline.
- The chemical industry in China emitted 1.2 GtCO2e in 2021, representing 12% of national industrial emissions.
- Dow Chemical reduced its net GHG emissions by 20% from 2020 to 2022 through efficiency projects.
- Globally, chemical production grew by 50% from 2010-2020, but emissions intensity fell by 10%.
- LyondellBasell cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 28% per ton of production since 2018.
- In 2021, the EU chemical industry emitted 120 million tons of CO2, down 25% from 2008 on a value-added basis.
- Saudi Aramco's chemical arm reduced flaring emissions by 40% in 2022 via advanced monitoring.
- Global chemical sector's methane emissions from operations were estimated at 25 Mt in 2020.
- INEOS achieved a 15% GHG reduction per tonne of product from 2015-2022.
- The industry's N2O emissions have dropped 70% globally since 1990 due to catalytic technologies.
- Covestro reduced CO2 emissions by 50% in polyurethane production via bio-based alternatives by 2023.
- U.S. chemical manufacturers cut energy-related CO2 emissions 45% since 1991 despite 30% output growth.
- Total Scope 3 emissions for the chemical industry reached 4 GtCO2e in 2019, mainly from product use.
- Evonik Industries lowered GHG emissions by 22% against 2017 baseline in 2022.
- Japan's chemical sector reduced per capita CO2 emissions by 35% from 2005-2020.
- Air Liquide's chemical operations saw a 17% emissions cut via hydrogen blending in 2022.
- The global fluorochemical industry's HFC emissions were phased down by 85% under Kigali Amendment by 2022.
- Eastman Chemical reduced GHG emissions 25% per ton since 2005 through process optimizations.
- Europe's chemical industry targets net-zero emissions by 2050, with 20% reduction pledged by 2030.
- Sinopec cut chemical plant emissions intensity by 18% from 2015-2021.
- DuPont achieved 40% reduction in GHG emissions per pound of product since 1990.
- Global chemical VOC emissions fell 60% in developed countries from 1990-2020.
- SABIC reduced carbon footprint by 15% in 2022 via CCUS projects.
- AkzoNobel lowered Scope 1&2 emissions 31% per ton of paint sold since 2012.
- Formosa Plastics cut emissions 20% through electrification in 2023.
- The industry's black carbon emissions from chemical processes contribute 0.5% to global totals.
- Mitsubishi Chemical Group reduced GHG by 12% YoY in 2022.
Emissions Reduction Interpretation
Energy Use
- The global chemical industry consumed 12% of world primary energy in 2021, with 40% from renewables in leading firms.
- U.S. chemical manufacturing energy intensity dropped 45% from 1974-2020.
- European chemical producers sourced 25% of energy from renewables in 2022.
- BASF's energy efficiency improved by 2.3% in 2022, saving 150,000 tons of CO2 equivalent.
- Dow aims for 100% renewable electricity by 2030, achieving 40% in 2022 operations.
- Global chemical sector energy use totaled 28 EJ in 2020, projected to rise 30% by 2050 without action.
- LyondellBasell reduced energy use per ton by 15% since 2018 via cogeneration.
- China's chemical industry energy consumption was 4.5% of national total in 2021.
- INEOS generated 70% of its energy needs from self-produced power in 2022.
- Chemical plants worldwide adopted 1.2 GW of solar capacity by 2023.
- Evonik improved energy productivity by 25% from 2003-2022.
- EU chemical sector saved €5 billion in energy costs through efficiency since 2008.
- Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) sourced 30% electricity from renewables in 2022.
- Covestro's energy from renewables reached 60% in key sites by 2023.
- U.S. DOE reports chemical industry saved 2.5 quadrillion BTUs via efficiency programs 2010-2020.
- AkzoNobel cut energy intensity 20% per liter of paint since 2012.
- Global steam cracking energy efficiency improved 10% since 2010 via pinch analysis.
- Eastman Chemical's VertecBio operations run on 100% renewable energy since 2021.
- Japan's chemical energy use per value added fell 30% from 2010-2020.
- DuPont's energy reduction per product unit was 25% since 2010.
- Chemical industry cogeneration provides 15% of global industrial power.
- Sinopec's energy efficiency projects saved 10 Mtce in 2022.
- Air Products invested $1B in green hydrogen for chemical feedstocks by 2023.
- Formosa's renewable energy procurement hit 20% in 2023.
- Mitsubishi Chemical's biomass boiler capacity reached 500 MW equivalent in 2022.
- Linde's chemical plant electrification reduced fossil fuel use by 25% in pilots.
Energy Use Interpretation
Innovation
- 30% of new chemical products launched in 2022 were bio-based or sustainable.
- Green chemistry principles adopted in 50% of EU chemical R&D budgets.
- BASF developed 100% bio-based polyols for foams, reducing fossil use 30%.
- Dow's bio-ethanol to ethylene process scaled to 1 million tons/year capacity.
- Global bio-chemical market grew to $20 billion in 2022.
- LyondellBasell launched MoReTec-1 recycling tech for 100% plastic purity.
- Number of green chemistry patents in chemicals rose 25% YoY 2020-2022.
- INEOS Styrolution's bio-attributed ABS used 90% renewable feedstocks.
- Evonik's biotech route to amino acids cut energy 40% vs traditional.
- EU funded 50 Horizon projects on sustainable chemistry worth €1B.
- SABIC's certified circular PP from recycled sources hit 500,000 tons sales.
- Covestro's PC Light technology uses 20% less material sustainably.
- U.S. DOE's 12 green chemistry centers developed 200 new processes.
- AkzoNobel's waterborne coatings reduced VOC 99% vs solvent-based.
- Eastman’s molecular recycling converted 100,000 tons waste plastic to virgin.
- Japan's NEDO biotech chemicals program yielded 50 commercial products.
- DuPont's bio-based Sorona fiber saved 30% GHG vs nylon 6.
- Enzymatic polyester recycling scaled to pilot 10,000 tons by Carbios.
- Sinopec's bio-PET production reached 100,000 tons in 2023.
- Air Liquide's carbon capture solvents improved efficiency 50%.
- Formosa's rPET from textile waste produced 200,000 tons annually.
- Mitsubishi Chemical's plant-based nylon cut water use 50%.
- Linde's hydrogen from electrolysis supplied 20% green H2 to chemicals.
Innovation Interpretation
Waste Management
- The chemical industry recycled 12 million tons of plastics in 2022, achieving a 15% recovery rate globally.
- U.S. chemical sector diverted 95% of hazardous waste from landfills in 2021.
- CEFIC reports EU chemical industry recycled 60% of non-product output waste in 2022.
- BASF recycled 2.5 million tons of materials, closing 18% material loops in 2022.
- Dow's waste to energy initiatives processed 1 million tons of waste in 2022.
- Global chemical waste generation was 350 million tons in 2020, with 20% hazardous.
- LyondellBasell achieved zero waste to landfill in 90% of sites by 2023.
- China's chemical industry recycled 25 million tons of solvents in 2021.
- INEOS recycled 1.2 million tons of plastics, representing 30% circularity rate.
- Evonik's waste recycling rate reached 92% in 2022.
- EU chemical firms turned 5 million tons of waste into resources via circular models.
- SABIC's TRUCIRCLE program recycled 1.5 million tons of post-consumer plastic in 2022.
- Covestro recycled 300,000 tons of polyols from chemical waste streams.
- U.S. EPA notes chemical recycling technologies processed 100,000 tons in 2022.
- AkzoNobel recycled 80% of coating waste into new products in 2022.
- Eastman launched methanolysis recycling for 50,000 tons PET annually.
- Japan's chemical waste reduction per unit output fell 40% since 2000.
- DuPont recycled 98% of manufacturing waste in 2022.
- Global tire chemical recycling recovered 1 million tons of carbon black.
- Sinopec's waste utilization rate hit 98.5% in 2022.
- Chemical industry solvent recovery saved 10 million tons waste yearly.
- Air Liquide recycled 500,000 tons industrial gases byproducts.
- Formosa Plastics zero-liquid discharge in 70% plants, recycling 95% water/waste.
- Mitsubishi Chemical recycled 400,000 tons PET via enzymatic tech pilots.
- Linde's waste heat recovery reused energy from 2 million tons waste.
Waste Management Interpretation
Water Management
- The global chemical industry withdrew 150 billion cubic meters of water in 2020.
- U.S. chemical sector water use intensity fell 70% since 1980.
- European chemical companies recycled 75% of process water in 2022.
- BASF reduced freshwater intake by 25% to 1.1 billion m3 in 2022 vs baseline.
- Dow achieved zero liquid discharge in 80% of sites, recycling 90% water.
- Global chemical water consumption is 3% of industrial total, projected to double by 2050.
- LyondellBasell cut water use 20% per ton production since 2015.
- China's chemical industry used 40 billion m3 water, with 30% recycled.
- INEOS recycled 85% of cooling water in operations.
- Evonik's water productivity rose 50% since 2003.
- EU chemical sector targets 20% water reduction by 2030 from 2015 base.
- SABIC reused 70% of water in Saudi operations amid scarcity.
- Covestro's closed-loop water systems recycle 95% in polycarbonate plants.
- U.S. chemical plants withdrew 5 billion gallons/day, with 60% recycled.
- AkzoNobel reduced water use 15% per ton coatings since 2012.
- Eastman recycled 1 billion gallons water annually via advanced treatment.
- Japan's chemical water intensity halved since 2000.
- DuPont's water restoration projects replenished 2 billion m3 since 2010.
- Chemical industry desalination capacity reached 2 million m3/day globally.
- Sinopec's zero discharge policy covered 50% plants, recycling 80%.
- Air Liquide treated 100 million m3 wastewater for reuse.
- Formosa's membrane tech recycled 98% process water.
- Mitsubishi Chemical's water recycling rate 90% in Asia sites.
- Linde supplied waterless cooling for chemical plants, saving 50 million m3/year.
Water Management Interpretation
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