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

Also in this section
27 May 2025
EU Parliament and Council both agree to exempt bulk of importers from paying a carbon tax on goods imported into the EU
27 May 2025
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage needs stable policy, investable frameworks and coordinated infrastructure if it is to be developed at scale
19 May 2025
The two Gulf states are combining fossil fuel production with ambitions to become leaders in low-carbon energy
14 May 2025
Deal with Calpine shows oil and gas major ExxonMobil has no intention of curbing its CCS ambitions, despite US policy risks and broader scepticism over the energy transition