Decarbonization: Challenges and Needs

Decarbonization: Challenges and Needs

Daniela Ferrari

Associate Director

Packaging & Specialty Plastics and Hydrocarbons R&D

Dow

Abstract:

Industrial decarbonization is one of the major challenges of the XXI century to achieving a sustainable future. As both a major user of energy and a producer of technologies that are essential to a lower-carbon economy, Dow has a key responsibility. By 2030, Dow has committed to reduce its net annual carbon emissions by 5 million metric tons vs its 2020 baseline (15% reduction). By 2050, Dow intends to be carbon neutral (scopes 1-3 plus product benefits).

Dow’s emissions reduction programs include a wide range of approaches to achieve carbon neutrality, including:

• Optimizing current manufacturing processes
• Examining and implementing transitional technologies such as carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) to meet increasing regulations and customer needs
• Innovating next-generation technologies for emission-free manufacturing

The presentation will provide an overview of the key challenges the chemical industry is facing in the journey to carbon neutrality and a few specific examples of the technologies Dow is evaluating to achieve this goal.