OSLO, Norway—Elkem Co. is setting further thresholds to help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, as the silicone supplier launches its "global climate road map."
According to the company, which has 29 production sites around the world and 6,800 employees, the focus will be on "reducing emissions toward net zero while growing supplies to the green transition," while using the Paris agreement (limiting global warming to below 2 degrees) as a guidepost in its efforts.
"Elkem aims to be part of the solution to combat climate change—and to be one of the winners in the green transition," said Elkem interim CEO Helge Aasen. "Our mission is to provide advanced material solutions shaping a better and more sustainable future. We have a clear corporate strategy to strengthen our competitive positions through specialization and growth. With this climate road map, we detail our ambitions to reduce emissions towards net zero while growing our business."
Elkem said it will look to limit its total fossil CO2 emissions by 28 percent from 2020-31 (3.4 million tons of CO2 to 2.4 million tons) while increasing its use of renewable and recycled products by 39 percent. The company maintains a zero-emission goal by 2050.
According to Elkem, 83 percent of the electricity it uses in its operations comes from renewable sources.
And its products—advanced silicones, silicon metal products and carbon solutions—"are essential to the green transition," the company said.
The "road map" is three-pronged in its mission, with the goals of:
- Reducing the material used in smelting processes to biomass; shifting to more renewable power in China; and "pursuing a more low-carbon supply chain and the potential of more carbon capture at its smelters";
- Growing its supplies of advanced materials to green markets such as construction, EVs and renewable energy; and "building new business in green markets such as battery materials, biomass and energy recovery"; and
- Contributing to circular economies, including through the eco-design of innovative products such as microsilica.
"Our stakeholders expect Elkem to be a leader on climate, and this climate road map sets out bold ambitions and actions," Aasen said. "At the same time, Elkem is dependent on our stakeholders to enable a successful green transition. We need customer demand for green solutions, we need attractive framework conditions and we need world-class competence and innovation."