BY SHARON TODD | CEO
The concept of sustainability is core to ensuring that an increasing population is able to exist without detrimental harm to the planet.
True sustainability is delivered when science can deliver solutions for sustainable business models and sustainable economies.
This issue is C&I’s second focused on sustainability – a reflection of how important the issue is. Inside you can find in-depth news and features looking at how science and industry are working together on everything from more sustainable concrete and green solvents to optimising light to boost growth in vertical farms.
However, understanding the impact on the economy and society – especially in a rapidly changing world – is vitally important.
Energy prices across the EU are a good example of this where excessively high energy prices, driven by the choices made around net zero are making the EU and the UK uncompetitive for investment.
SCI’s own research published recently shows that the UK and Europe continue to pay significantly higher prices for energy than others. Whereas UK companies found themselves paying 25p per kilowatt hour in 2024, in the US the price is closer to 7p. And there are concerns that UK prices could rise further, with the report commissioned by SCI from ERM forecasting increasing energy prices in the UK. This has been supported by the boss of Centrica – the UK’s major energy supplier.
A broad group of industries across the EU and the UK are calling for governments to respond to the excessively high energy costs pointing out that these costs are not only leading plants to shut down but are also holding back companies at exactly the time they need to be investing in new innovations and technologies to decarbonise their activities.
At worst, well-meaning policies in one region aimed at decarbonisation could drive companies out of business, if the additional costs of compliance make their products too expensive, especially when compared with products imported from regions that do not have such legislation.
Decarbonisation of the energy grid is vital, but must not lead to deindustrialisation which cannot be reversed.
The upstream chemical industry, in particular, is facing fierce price competition from imports, many of which come from countries with not just lower energy costs but much less demanding environmental regulations, too.
Offshoring of carbon emissions is being called out as this is neither a sensible nor scientific way to address the increasing global CO2 emissions. Helping the regulators understand the complexities of carbon management is needed to reverse some of the negative unintended consequences of EU and UK regulation.
Science and innovation are key to unlocking a pathway to true sustainability. And here at SCI we continue to support innovation through convening companies up and down supply chains to collaborate. Cutting-edge research published in our journals including the most recent journal launched last year – SCI Sustainability, which addresses the complex area of systems thinking in sustainability.
To achieve a successful transition we need to ensure that economies stay strong and that businesses are able to invest in sustainable technologies needed for the future.
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