The challenge
Currently, over 5% of global carbon derived from fossil fuels is used to create essential materials such as plastics, cleaning products, textiles, and components found in countless goods that we rely on daily. However, as some of these products degrade, they contribute an average of 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions to the atmosphere annually. This figure underscores the need for innovative solutions to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate environmental impacts.
Innovative and ground-breaking solutions
Flue2Chem aims to explore ways of using valuable CO2 emissions from industrial processes as an alternative source of carbon. Academics and industry involved in the collaboration use cutting-edge technologies to transform carbon dioxide into the fundamental building blocks of surfactants - key ingredients used in household detergents, paints, and much more. Beyond the technical aspects, the project is also evaluating the socio-economic implications of adopting this pioneering raw material source.
Ian Howell, Advanced Material and Surface Science Lead, Unilever Home Care said: “Powered by cross-sector collaboration, Flue2Chem shows how captured carbon can be turned into key ingredients for everyday products without compromising on performance. This is an important step in our ambition to defossilise supply chains, and with the right support, this innovation can help build a low-carbon, circular economy.”
Report findings
Read more about the work we are doing to address chemicals in our Home Care business here.