Products made by chemical companies touch almost every aspect of modern life. The industry is working hard to develop the innovative technologies needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a sustainable future. In this Q&A, Chris Jahn, President
How is the chemical industry reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout its supply chain and manufacturing processes?
Climate change is a global challenge that requires decisive action, and the chemical industry is making it a priority. Under Responsible Care®, the chemical industry’s environmental, health, safety and security performance initiative, our members track and publicly report our greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity and energy use: Between 1992 and 2018, members reduced the GHG intensity of their operations by more than 24%.
We know that there is more to do, and we’re taking the initiative. Our members are exploring, developing, and deploying a host of exciting new technologies to achieve significant reductions in emissions in our manufacturing and operations going forward. Examples include carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) to prevent CO2 from entering the atmosphere; lower-emission hydrogen, steam, and electricity; the use of biomaterials and circular feedstocks instead of virgin materials; cracker electrification; and industrial energy efficiency programs. Our strategy is to capture emissions, reduce GHGs related to energy and feedstock use, and improve the efficiency of our processes.
Our industry is a leader in the use of combined heat and power (CHP), a highly efficient process for generating heat and electricity on-site. We also helped pioneer catalytic technologies that let facilities produce more with less energy. Last year, ACC established a partnership with DOE to enhance innovation in energy efficient plastics recycling and reduce waste through enhanced recovery of post-use plastics.
Our largest production base is located in Weifang, Shandong, next to the Bohai Sea. Using abundant bromine resources, our outstanding engineers synthesize fine bromine chemicals with advanced production technology. The complete production system from raw material mining to processing and synthesis makes us a domestic The largest manufacturer of brominated flame retardants, we are actively exploring the continuous supply of bromine raw materials to ensure the abundance of raw materials and provide our customers with a steady stream of high-precision products.
