All known technological solutions for the green transition require advanced materials, Mollet said, and for that reason facilities that can conduct such operations are inherently greener.
"This is a difficult question to answer because the essence of Elkem Silicones in the U.S. with the York sites is to manufacture specialized silicone," Mollet said. "This translates into more energy-efficient buildings."
Silicones, silicon and carbon solutions are critical enablers and they continue to represent the most significant ways for Elkem to have an impact—by ensuring durable and sustainable supply toward a low-carbon future.
Elkem has received a platinum rating from Ecovadis and an A- rating on CDP Climate.
And renewable carbon sources and developing innovative production processes will be critical as the world moves toward sustainability.
"With a fully integrated value chain from upstream silicon to silicones and their downstream uses, it is vital to manage the environmental production footprint," Mollet said.
Elkem's own journey, as detailed in its 2021 sustainability report, includes the notion of "dual-play growth."
Dual-play growth has Elkem seeking balance in the company, both geographically and across the value chain, with an ambition to grow by more than 5 percent per year, and an EBITDA margin of at least 15 percent per year.
"Green leadership means that we aim to be in the forefront on reducing emissions in our industry, toward net zero by 2050, and that we focus our growth on markets essential to the green transition," Elkem CEO Helge Aasen said in the company's 2022 third-quarter financial report. "Based on this strategy, Elkem is well-positioned to provide advanced silicon-based materials shaping a better and more sustainable future."
And the York facility that cut the ribbon Sept. 28 is a big part of that master plan.