Sustainability Conference 2024

The Chemical Industries Association (CIA) hosted its annual Sustainability Conference on 26th September 2024, at the Hilton Hotel in Leeds, drawing leaders, innovators and sustainability advocates from across the chemical sector. This year’s conference showcased pioneering sustainability efforts, from green chemistry to sustainable energy transitions, and highlighted collaborative approaches to address the industry’s most pressing environmental challenges.

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Key Conference Highlights

Christopher Porter from SLR Consulting opened the sessions with a presentation on enhancing supply chain collaboration through a case study in the pharmaceutical industry. He emphasised the importance of life cycle assessments (LCA) in meeting regulatory standards and fostering sustainability in complex industries. Following this, Melina Papanou from Cefic discussed the impending Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), providing clarity on reporting challenges and compliance strategies, which are crucial as companies gear up to meet stringent European regulations.

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The morning concluded with Fraser Wilkinson, also from SLR, who underscored the significance of nature-based disclosures, referencing the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). As environmental standards evolve, such frameworks are increasingly essential for chemical companies aiming to align with global biodiversity goals.

 

Inspiring Careers in STEM Panel

The conference’s panel on careers in STEM engaged a diverse range of professionals, including Lucy Jones from Croda, Sameen Barabhuiya from Nufarm, and Joy Parvin from the Centre for Industry Education Collaboration. The panel highlighted the growing importance of attracting young talent into the chemical industry to drive sustainability forward. They shared insights into the opportunities and challenges facing early-career professionals and emphasized the need for industry outreach to inspire future innovators.

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Afternoon sessions

The afternoon agenda showcased breakthrough innovations aimed at sustainable chemical production. Jonathon Jagger of Mitsubishi Chemicals presented their “Safe and Sustainable by Design” initiative, focusing on strategic data modelling and process redesign to minimise the environmental footprint. Following him, Annette Alcasabas from Johnson Matthey delved into advancements in industrial biotechnology, presenting biocatalytic approaches that promise sustainable production pathways.

David Kipling from On-Site Energy offered an energy outlook, touching on the implications of recent policy shifts and their potential to lower costs and advance net-zero targets. The day concluded with Alastair Sanderson from Unilever, who led the session on the Flue2Chem Project. This collaborative initiative, involving 17 companies, aims to harness the carbon from industrial emissions for chemical manufacturing, an inspiring example of circularity in action.

The CIA’s Sustainability Conference 2024 affirmed the industry’s commitment to creating greener pathways through innovation, strategic partnerships and a focus on sustainability. The strong turnout, insightful presentations, and engaging discussions made it clear that the chemical sector is taking significant steps to reduce its environmental impact.

It was a huge success and we’re grateful to all who joined us, a special thanks of course goes to our riveting array of speakers and exhibitors. It was brilliant to see everyone so engaged and hope this has fostered some fruitful discussions to take forward.

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