Chemicals and capital markets – growing sustainably

Firms with a low-carbon product portfolio are being rewarded by capital markets and safeguarding future cashflows, according to consultancy McKinsey’s chemicals practice

The chemicals industry has always been at the forefront of creating new or improved materials to meet the needs of society. Historically, this has meant delivering products with the right physical or chemical properties. But these days the focus is on delivering products and materials with a lower environmental impact, including (but not limited to) lower carbon footprints. As industries increasingly shift away from fossil fuels and transition to renewable sources, chemicals will play a central role in moving the economy to net zero. Today, the chemicals industry creates significant scope one and two emissions and is central to the question of plastics waste. Moreover, the industry consumes