Net Zero

Mapping the UK chemical industry’s journey to Net Zero

Showcasing the investments and innovations driving the nation’s low-carbon future.

Home >  Our Focus > Net Zero > Mapping the UK chemical industry’s journey to net zero

At the Core of UK Manufacturing

The UK chemicals sector has rightly been recognised as “at the core of Advanced Manufacturing underpinning all domestic manufacturing.” As a vital foundation for every supply chain, the chemical industry touches almost every aspect of modern life from food and energy to transport, housing and healthcare.

Our position at the root of every supply chain, means decarbonising the chemical industry brings a ripple effect, reducing emissions across all sectors.

About the Investment Map

The CIA Investment Map is an interactive tool highlighting the scope and scale of potential and ongoing net zero projects across Chemical Industries Association member companies.

From hydrogen and carbon capture to circular economy initiatives and efficiency improvements, these investments demonstrate how our members are building the technologies and infrastructure for a cleaner, more competitive future.

While not exhaustive, the map illustrates the breadth of opportunity within the UK chemical industry and the need to act now to fully seize it.

investment map

Our mission is to bring you many more projects on this map. A smart route to net zero that reflects the sectors transition pathway can enable this for the UK chemical industry, not only to regain competitive advantage, but to support the UK’s strategic goals.  This mean competitive energy prices and a carbon policies that incentives decarbonisation and circularity rather than driving deindustrialisation.

This Investment Map showcases six key technologies the industry is advancing to drive net zero, alongside the range of potential and ongoing projects and investments across CIA member companies.

 

Key technologies

  • Untitled design (23)

    AI

    Chemical companies are adopting AI to enhance efficiency, innovation, and sustainability, reshaping operations and driving competitive advantage.

  • 3

    Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage

    Carbon is an essential building block for the chemical industry, used to produce materials and products for everyday life. 

  • 2

    Hydrogen

    Hydrogen is essential to the chemical industry, used as a key feedstock for producing ammonia, methanol, and other chemicals, and as a fuel to generate high-temperature process heat

  • 7

    Hydrogen and CCUS

    The chemical industry uses hydrogen as a fundamental feedstock for products like ammonia and methanol. CCUS can help achieve net-zero goals by capturing emissions from existing plants, enabling the production of low-carbon hydrogen, and removing CO2 from the atmosphere. The combination of these technologies allows for the decarbonization of high-temperature industrial processes and the creation of new sustainable revenue streams for chemical companies.

  • 4

    Renewable Energy

    Renewable energy is transforming the chemical industry by providing clean power sources and sustainable feedstocks, primarily through the use of green hydrogen, biomass and direct electrification.

  • 5

     Sustainable Aviation Fuel

    The chemical industry is essential for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by converting various feedstocks into a jet fuel-like product through chemical processes like catalysis and synthesis.

A key building block of the economy

Find out how the chemical industry fuels UK growth

The Chemical Industry