How can net zero in chemicals be profitable?

It’s our view that decarbonization strategies must move toward the top of the agenda in the chemicals sector, which has both direct and enabling roles to play in this race to net zero:

• Radically reduce the “footprint” of chemicals industry operations.
  

Building on strategic objectives, define an optimization framework across your organization to evaluate the cost/benefit case for different operational adjustments that will drive a reduction in GHG emissions. Many leading companies have been doing this for decades; one chemical company reports that it added $4 billion to its bottom line through energy efficiency improvements during a single decade. And there is still more to be done: new technology developments mean that opportunities that were previously judged not worthy of investment should be reconsidered. The proven EY decarbonization methodology has helped several large companies develop plans for profitable footprint reductions.

• Improve the “handprint”⁸ benefits of the products of chemistry.
  

Implement a supply chain approach that identifies emission hotspots in your supply chain, providing a platform for engagement. Then consider collaboration opportunities with value chain partners to develop ways to improve impacts at the point of greatest leverage. Revenue improvements and cost savings from more sustainable products have proved to be an important source of economic profit.

• Take the lead in developing a blueprint of industry practices, public policy and cultural changes that will be needed to get to net zero.
  

The voice of progressive industry is increasingly needed in today’s policy discussions. Policymakers and advisors recognize that a profitable and progressive chemicals sector will be key to successful change. And progressive practices, such as valuing ecosystem services and the role of nature in solving engineering challenges, have been shown to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in additional value in the chemical industry.

One of the key failures EY teams have identified in decarbonization approaches to date is the lack of alignment between growth and emission reductions. Hence, our EY Decarbonization Architecture Framework that seeks to establish the critical components needed to create a sustainable decarbonization strategy. It should:

• Be executable. Many strategies ignore the realities of management of change and market mechanisms or technologies that are not of sufficient scale to implement. Chemical companies should evaluate upstream, operational and downstream emissions to determine what can be reduced and when.
  
• Provide a return on investment. Assessment of alternatives to combustion for heating processes in chemical companies’ operations should be assessed with appropriate financial and emissions modeling to establish the business case for change. Incorporating an internal carbon price in that analysis should be seen as a necessary hedge to current and future pricing of emissions.
• Have a realistic time frame. There is currently an overreliance on future technologies to drive the emissions curve down in the future. This is a high-risk strategy that can leave a company with expensive short-term options (such as offset purchases) to achieve goals and targets. An effective decarbonization strategy establishes the appropriate dependencies and work streams based on level of effort, cost, emission reduction potential and return on investment to fully evaluate all possible decarbonization pathways.

Regardless of where you are in your low-carbon transformation journey, it will be necessary to focus on the following key steps to remain relevant and drive sustainable returns in the future:

Strategy: Define and implement a low-carbon strategy, and business models that reduce GHG emissions while remaining profitable. Articulate these strategies clearly to markets and other stakeholders. Key questions: do we have a strategy, and is it the right one?

Reporting: Accelerate reporting on climate change metrics that are transparent, objective and accessible to investors. Be honest about where you are and which objectives you still need to address. Key question: how should our reporting evolve as we execute our strategy?

Innovation: Harness technological advancements that improve the handprint of your products, delivering financial and environmental benefits for your entire value chain. Don’t be afraid to think big and explore bold ideas that have the potential to bring you closer to your goals. Key question: how do we position our innovation efforts to align with future market expectations?

Policy: Help lead the development policy and societal changes that will be critical to success in achieving global decarbonization. Be a leader, not a follower. Key question: how do we leverage our strategic ambition and purpose to enhance external engagement and advocacy?

Workforce: Develop a workforce strategy that maintains the business as an attractive destination for talent concerned about carbon footprint and sustainability in the industry. Key question: what organizational structures and culture will be required to drive our execution efforts over the long term, while promoting a pipeline of new talent?

Our proven Decarbonization Architecture Framework and Sustainable Transformation Methodology, implemented with several major clients, have proved to lead to profitable growth and a clear strategy for future growth and sustainability.

When it comes to developing and implementing a decarbonization strategy, no two approaches will be the same. With this in mind, EY teams have developed a framework to help companies navigate the stages of developing and implementing a decarbonization strategy.

This framework is:

• Capability- and competency-driven and supports both the strategic outlook and the execution areas required to capture long-term value.
• Not a reporting framework such as TCFD. While there are similarities, the framework is intended to provide suggested capabilities or competency areas for discussion.
• The framework consists of six elements, each with distinct components, and is part of a broader decarbonization architecture including tools and enablers leveraging the reach and teaming capabilities of the global EY organization.