Syensqo and Shell Chemicals Europe BV announced a collaboration to supply low-carbon ethylene oxide solutions targeting agricultural and industrial markets. The proposal seeks to reduce the carbon footprint of the product without altering formulation performance or requiring new technical validation processes.
Additionally, the initiative is based on lower carbon intensity raw materials supplied by Shell Chemicals for the development of EO-based solutions with a mass balance approach.
According to information released by both companies, these raw materials can offer a carbon footprint up to 51% lower compared to conventional ethylene oxide, thanks to the use of carbon capture and utilization credits.
A Lower Carbon Footprint Ethylene Oxide
Under this agreement, Syensqo plans to incorporate certified EO-based alternative ingredients that can be directly integrated into existing formulations. This point is key for manufacturers who need to advance in decarbonization without sacrificing operational stability, product quality, or supply reliability.
In this way, customers could reduce Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions in their value chains while maintaining expected performance in industrial and agricultural applications. The direct compatibility of these solutions also reduces adoption barriers in markets where any raw material change typically involves lengthy revalidation periods.
Likewise, the solutions will be verified under ISCC’s Carbon Footprint Certification, an element that reinforces the traceability of the environmental attribute associated with lower-carbon raw materials. The mass balance approach allows certified allocation of the climate benefit within complex production chains, a practice increasingly used in petrochemical and specialty chemical products.
Furthermore, the collaboration responds to growing pressure on manufacturers and user industries to reduce indirect emissions associated with raw materials, energy, processing, product use, and end-of-life.
Chloé Masselon, Sustainability Director at Syensqo, noted that customers need to reduce the carbon footprint of their products without compromising performance or supply reliability. She also indicated that the combination of certified low-emission raw materials and direct compatibility offers an immediate pathway to decarbonize formulations at scale and respond to regulatory and market requirements.
Syensqo’s Goal Within Its One Planet Program
This collaboration supports Syensqo’s ambition within its One Planet program, which includes a 25% reduction in Scope 3 GHG emissions in prioritized categories by 2030 compared to 2021 levels.
The company positions this measure within a broader strategy focused on purchased goods and services, fuel- and energy-related activities, processing of sold products, use of sold products, and end-of-life treatment.
Source and photo: Syensqo