Chemical industry in transition: This is how CO2 is used sustainably!

Chemical industry in transition: This is how CO2 is used sustainably!

The chemical industry is increasingly faced with the challenge of making its production methods sustainable. In light of global climate goals, companies like Evonik want to adapt their processes. Evonik is planning significant changes to increase the proportion of recycling in production. This is in line with the overarching goal of reducing harmful emissions, particularly Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). The focus is on advancing sustainable products through so-called “Next Generation Solutions”, with the aim of offering more environmentally friendly alternatives to meet increasing demand. These developments are part of a larger shift that the entire industry must undergo to achieve defossilization.

A study by PwC and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) points out that the chemical industry is one of the largest sources of CO2 emissions worldwide. By 2040, the net-zero transformation will require investments of up to $1 trillion in this sector alone. By 2050, these costs could rise to as much as $3.3 trillion. These figures illustrate the enormous financial effort required to implement environmentally friendly production methods. At the same time, the study shows that long-term cost savings are possible through sustainable technologies, as investment costs are expected to fall.

Technological innovations to reduce CO2

A central aspect of sustainable transformation is the development of efficient technologies to reduce CO2. Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU), although currently not considered economically viable, are being discussed to play a role in the future. These technologies are intended to help capture CO2 from the atmosphere and reuse or store it. DENSO, for example, relies on an innovative method for CO2 capture that is based on an electric field and thus reduces the energy required. This compact and efficient technique could be installed in many environments, and DENSO plans to further test this technology in social experiments.

In addition, the technologies could also be used to produce chemicals, alternative fuels or mineral conversions, driving the circular economy in the chemical industry. DENSO's collaboration with hydrogen development teams shows how integrated approaches to CO2 use and recycling can be promoted in industry.

Need for action and future prospects

The chemical industry must now actively work on defossilization. Important levers are the use of renewable energies, the electrification of production processes and the use of green raw materials. These measures are crucial to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and minimize environmental impact.

In summary, it can be said that the chemical industry is facing a fundamental change that not only requires large investments, but also brings with it the potential for far-reaching environmental and cost reductions. How tu-dortmund.de reports, this process is promoted by technological innovations such as those from DENSO. However, in order to achieve the ambitious climate goals, all actors must pull together and develop effective solutions.