OUR INDUSTRY IS energy and carbon-intensive, but it is highly efficient. The products we produce and supply to other industries and society enable significant resource and energy savings; and as a consequence reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. For every tonne of CO2 emitted during production, chemical  products save two tonnes of CO2 during use.

Areas where most savings are made are transportation, heating, construction, agriculture, packaging, consumer goods, power and lighting. Our products also provide the raw materials for renewable energy technology, including wind turbines and solar panels.

Many examples of sustainable products can be mentioned, whether it is insulation materials used in the construction industry and for housing, lightweight materials for lower fuel consumption in the automotive industry, or lighter and more easily recyclable plastics for food packaging and lightweight and durable piping.

To tackle climate change related issues INEOS has a very integrated and proactive approach, especially concerning carbon and energy matters. The pan-INEOS Carbon and Energy Network (CEN) operates across all INEOS businesses and sites, enabling  them to work in concert. The Network captures expertise. It shares best practice and understanding of future legislative and policy developments at all levels across our businesses.

CARBON FIBRE is a vital component in an increasing number of products. Lightweight and incredibly strong, it is now the material of choice for wind turbine blades and a new generation of highly-efficient planes and cars. When used in the manufacture of aircraft, fuel efficiency can be improved by as much as 30% without compromising safety.

PLASTICS ARE a valuable commodity, they account for 4% of the global consumption of oil and gas. INEOS is working to get ‘more for less’, to decrease the amount of oil, gas and other raw materials used in their production. Our R&D efforts include a broad range of projects focused on improving process efficiency at our production plants and developing new, more sustainable products for our customers. The thinking is simple: if plastics are stronger and lighter, they require fewer raw materials to make and use less energy in transportation. They are often easier to recycle.

The same number of machines can now produce 20% more product

INEOS Olefins & Polymers is focused on reducing the weight of high value plastics, while maintaining their strength, rigidity and durability. For example, our lightweight, durable piping, which is used in distribution networks for water and gas, is corrosion free and can last up to 100 years - significantly longer than steel. It is also more reliable, easier to install and leaks less. Our PERT (polyethylene resistant to temperature) piping is being used to provide a simple, low cost hot water piping system for thousands of homes around the globe.

We are also improving the efficiency of plastics production by developing high-rigidity packaging that can be moulded using up to 20% less energy over a shorter life cycle. This means that the same number of injection moulding machines can produce 20% more product, whether that’s a car fuel tank or the packaging used to extend the shelf life of food products. We often work in partnership with our customers to develop new solutions. For example, we worked with well-known soft drinks producers to help reduce the weight of the caps on bottles by around 25%, which is a direct saving on raw materials and waste and makes the bottles lighter to transport.