Fighting climate change
Our commitment to low carbon growth
The science is clear, global temperature rise is a reality. According to reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we have just a short amount of time before climate change becomes irreversible and will likely trigger feedback loops that will further increase the average temperature of our planet. At Clariant, we take our role in preventing such a scenario from becoming reality seriously. With the vision to become climate neutral by 2050, we have set ourselves ambitious science-based climate targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative’s guidance framework. We are committed to acting upon the guidance provided by sound science to transform our business and allow for sustainable growth.
Sustainable growth means reducing emissions within our operations and across our value chain, and mitigating climate risk and seizing its opportunities, with high-performing innovative solutions for a low carbon economy for the benefit of customers and society.
Low-carbon solutions for our customers
As our climate gives us increasing and alarming signals of change, individuals and industries are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprints. Our solutions support our customers with the transition to a climate neutral economy. Learn more about the carbon handprint innovations in our portfolio.
What emissions we are talking about
Scope 2 emissions are from indirect greenhouse gas emissions produced from the consumption of secondary energies, mainly electricity and steam. Scope 3 emissions refer to other indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in Clariant’s value chain. For Clariant the most relevant emissions are from the production of raw materials purchased, transportation and distribution, fuel- and energy- related activities, and the end-of-life treatment of products sold.
How we are reducing emissions
Collaborating for change
The societal and economic challenges coming with the transformation toward climate neutrality call for collaboration that goes well beyond the technological, creative and innovative capacities of one single company. For this reason, Clariant is active in global sustainability initiatives, regional innovation platforms and trade associations. Our engagements include:
Clariant is a supporter of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) initiative. We are committed to implementing its recommendations so that investors, lenders and insurers receive reliable, decision-useful, climate-related information and, at the same time, we improve Clariant’s strategic resilience to climate change.
Clariant is among the founding members of the World Economic Forum’s Low Carbon Emitting Technologies Initiative (LCET). The objective of this climate-flagship initiative, hosted by the World Economic Forum and supported by the Mission Possible Partnership, is to jointly accelerate the development of low-carbon emitting technologies for chemical production and related value chains. The initiative is the first CEO-led coalition in the chemical industry focused on transformation towards a decarbonized and circular future. The collaboration aims to pilot projects in order to share early-stage risks and to co-fund the development and upscaling of low-carbon-emitting technologies such as hydrogen generation in low-carbon emission processes, the use of CO2 and biomass as feedstocks, and the overall electrification of chemical processes – all areas which are highly relevant for Clariant.
Clariant is also a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, a cross industry network of leaders on all sustainability related topics. We actively participate in working groups such as SOS 1.5 and Climate Policy. These initiatives support the efforts related to our science-based climate targets and enable Clariant to exchange best practice, put ambitions into action and also promote a progressive industry voice, at a global level, connecting experiences across different industry sectors.
Clariant is a member of A.SPIRE, the private association behind the Processes4Planet public private partnership with the European Commission. Processes4Planet aims – through innovation actions and project funding – to develop and deploy cross-sectorial climate neutral solutions closing the energy and feedstock loops. These innovations are needed for a transformation of European process industries to achieve overall climate neutrality at EU level by 2050 and enhanced global competitiveness.
Clariant supports other sectorial initiatives which are closely connected to its business priorities, namely in support of policy frameworks that can enable the company to secure a faster deployment of sustainable, advanced biofuels. These currently include the Advanced Biofuels Coalition, a coalition of leading advanced biofuels producers and technology providers committed to making a strong contribution to meet the EU ambitions of reducing transport emissions, and ePure (www.epure.org), which represents member interests in the European renewable ethanol industry.
In the area of hydrogen, Clariant supports the Hydrogen Council and its ambitions to foster the clean energy transformation and mitigate the effects of climate change.
