Arkema, a global leader in Specialty Materials, received the “Green Sustainable Development Contribution Award” at the 2022 International Green Zero-Carbon Festival unveiled in Beijing on 30 August, in recognition for its ongoing efforts and outstanding performance in sustainability.
2022 International Zero Green-Carbon Festival was an esteemed business award ceremony focused on sustainability. Hosted under the theme, “Acknowledging Leaders in Green Development”, the ceremony applauded role models in various industries across China for their pioneering achievements and extraordinary efforts in sustainable development. It also sought to inspire more companies to support carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, and together embark on the journey toward carbon neutrality.
Arkema’s commitment to delivering its sustainable development strategy has remained steadfast over the years, and today, it has received industry recognition for its proactive participation in driving forward numerous sustainable development initiatives. Julie Zhang, President of Arkema Greater China commented, “We are honored to be the recipient of the ‘Green Sustainable Development Contribution Award’. It truly reaffirms our ongoing hard work in this field. The Chinese market serves a pivotal role to Arkema Group, which will provide us with even greater growth opportunities. We will continue to fulfil our solemn promise through action, and will be guided by China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and our Group’s global target to reduce carbon emissions. We are committed to supporting sustainable development here in China and worldwide.”
Bolster Commitment to Climate, Help Realize “Carbon Neutrality” Goal
As a responsible manufacturer, Arkema is mobilized to addressing the major societal challenge of global warming. In July, Arkema has set itself an ambitious climate target: based on an SBT (Science Based Target) approach, to reduce its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and its scope 3 emissions by 46% by 2030 relative to 2019. Thus, the Group is raising its level of commitment from well below 2°C to 1.5°C, and now also includes all scope 3 emissions.
Action has already begun in Arkema China. All sites have dedicated man power and resources into a number of initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, including technological innovation, process enhancement as well as green energy transition. By the end of 2021, Arkema’s global carbon emission has reduced by 34% relative to 2015, the contribution of Chinese factories was also included.
Celine Zeng, Arkema Greater China Senior HSE & OE Director noted, “Sustainable development is an integral part to Arkema’s corporate social responsibility. In China, we have responded to the Group’s commitment through a series of resource management initiatives.
For example, through ‘Arkema Energy’ program, we have been able to continue optimizing energy management performance. This has also enabled our sites to push forward a number of energy saving and emission reducing projects. From 2015 to today, our energy efficiency has increased 15%, which has greatly contributed toward the reduction of carbon emissions.”
Arkema China has continued investing efforts into improving energy efficiency and evolving the energy mix of its industrial activities in recent years so to ensure sustainable manufacturing and support “carbon neutrality”.
Take Positive Actions, Galvanize Circular Economy
Circular economy sits at the heart of Arkema’s long-term sustainable development strategy. To drive the decisive development of circular economy, the Group is taking action on three fronts. Namely, the choice of raw materials, seeking to promote renewable and recycled materials; the optimized management of resources during manufacturing at its sites, to become even more efficient and streamlined; and its range of solutions, with a strong focus on sustainable and recyclable applications.
Arkema has become a global pioneer as it adopts castor oil as the raw material for producing monomers and polymers. It will continue to deliver ongoing innovation so to enhance research and development into recyclable and renewable high-performance bio-based polymer solutions. Rilsan® and Pebax® are two example high-performance specialty polyamide brands that were developed from renewable raw materials, and are now broadly used in areas such as additive manufacturing (3D printing), transportation, consumer electronics and footwear.
Julie Zhang added, “Bio-sourced raw materials, low-carbon applications and a focus on sustainability, recovery and recycling of materials, are the three pillars of the bio-circular concept designed by Arkema, under the acronym ABC (Advanced, Bio-based, Circular), the central area of focus of our innovation and growth policy in the field of High-Performance Polymers. Today, the product series that use castor oil as a raw material has enabled Arkema to develop a unique, integrated and circular bio-based supply chain.”
As part of its ongoing efforts to encourage the adoption of bio-based raw materials, Arkema is also a founding member of Pragati – the world’s first sustainable castor bean program – and continues to play a proactive role. To date, the company has worked alongside partners to deliver training for over 5,800 Indian farmers, enabling them to grow castor more efficiently and ecologically.
Arkema further reduced carbon dioxide emissions through its Virtucycle® program. It is dedicated to collecting and recycling high-performance polymers, which serves to address issues surrounding resource scarcity and product obsolescence.
As environmental and climate challenges intensify, Arkema remains steadfast in its commitment. It will continue to leverage its expertise in materials science, proactively uphold its corporate social responsibility, and strive to build a more sustainable world.