Unilever and P&G join initiative to address UK net zero targets

Unilever and Procter & Gamble (P&G) are among the companies to launch Flue2Chem, a cross-sector programme to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) and 15 other organisations have secured funding for a two-year programme to convert industrial waste gases in the UK into sustainable materials for consumer products.

The ‘Flue2Chem’ programme hopes to cut around 15-20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year to help the UK reach its net zero target by 2025.

Other consortium partners include BASF, Tata Steel, UPM-Kymmene, Holmen, Croda, Johnson Matthey, The University of Sheffield, The University of Surrey, Carbon Clean, Centre for Process Innovation, Confederation of Paper Industries and Reckitt.

David Bott, Head of Innovation at SCI, said: “This is an excellent example of the power of collaborative working. It is an important step for the UK and SCI’s vision of furthering the application of chemistry and related sciences into industry for public benefit.

"The new business model will aim to reduce the need for imported fossil fuel material. Instead, the consortium will build a new, more sustainable supply chain whilst also mitigating waste emissions. The group will develop methods for using carbon captured from waste streams of other industries and transform them into affordable raw materials for consumer products.”

Project lead Ian Howell, Unilever’s Home Care Science & Technology R&D Director and Chair of SCI’s SMCP Group, said: “This is a game-changing opportunity to accelerate action and rewire the chemicals value chain to be less reliant on fossil fuels.

"It’s a bold ambition and one that, at Unilever, we have been publicly calling for action over the last two years. No single company can do this alone and so to have the power of 15 manufacturers and academics marks a significant step forward not only for the UK, but globally too.”