Winning the Low-Carbon Technology Innovation Award underscores the Group’s commitment to tackling climate change in China and globally.
Solvay has won the 2022 Chinese Enterprises Carbon Neutrality Performance Low-Carbon Technology Innovation Award. The award recognizes the Group’s global efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, which are guided by its Solvay One Planet sustainability roadmap.
As part of its sustainability commitments, Solvay aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 31% by 2030 – a target that has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). As of 2022, the Group had cut emissions by 27% in China, and by 19% worldwide*. It is also targeting carbon neutrality in all businesses other than soda ash by 2040, with complete carbon neutrality to be achieved before 2050.
“We are delighted to receive recognition for the work we have done to tackle climate change,” said Pascal Chalvon Demersay, Solvay’s Chief Sustainability and Government Affairs Officer. “At Solvay, we set the bar high, and we are eager to invest more in optimizing our plants to lower the carbon footprint of our products and achieve our goal of reaching carbon neutrality.”
As early as 2019, Solvay’s Zhangjiagang site in China began the shift to sustainable energy sources by installing a biomass boiler. In 2022, Solvay voluntarily purchased green electricity certificates to secure 100% renewable electricity for all its operations in China. And earlier this year, the Group’s Hengchang site installed mechanical vapor recompression facilities to reduce steam and natural gas consumption. Worldwide, Solvay now has 59 emissions reduction projects underway, which will enable a 3.5 million metric ton reduction in CO2 emissions annually – the equivalent of taking 1.9 million cars off the road.
Solvay is also working with customers and suppliers to tackle climate change. In 2022, 55% of Group sales were sustainable solutions and 9.3% contributed to the circular economy. By 2030, the Group aims to increase this to 65% and more than double the 2018 figure respectively*. With its unique open innovation platform for eco-efficient products and processes, the Solvay China Research and Innovation Center has a role to play here, working with leading global research institutes and universities to enable sustainable developments.
The Chinese enterprises Top Performing Company in Carbon Neutrality Awards are organized by the China Business Network (CBN or Yicai) and the Research Institute for Carbon Neutrality at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. It is sponsored by Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange and Energy Foundation, with technical support provided by Envision Group. The theme for 2022 was the green energy transition, with a focus on sustainability and innovation.
* Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gases, using Solvay’s 2018 results as the baseline.
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Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. With more than 22,000 employees in 63 countries, Solvay bonds people, ideas and elements to reinvent progress. The Group seeks to create sustainable shared value for all, notably through its Solvay One Planet roadmap crafted around three pillars: protecting the climate, preserving resources and fostering a better life. The Group’s innovative solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices, health care applications, water and air purification systems. Founded in 1863, Solvay today ranks among the world’s top three companies for the vast majority of its activities and delivered net sales of €13.4 billion in 2022. Solvay is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (SOLB). Learn more at www.solvay.com.
