France’s Arkema to fully disclose emissions footprint but process complex, long – CEO

Jonathan Lopez

10-Nov-2021

MADRID (ICIS)–Arkema is looking at its internal and external greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and aims to publicise its full carbon footprint, including scope 3 emissions, the CEO of the French chemicals major said on Wednesday.

Thierry Le Henaff, however, refused to put a date for when the full disclosure would occur.

The CEO was speaking to reporters from Arkema’s headquarters in Paris following the publication of third-quarter financial results earlier on Wednesday.

Scope 3 emissions refer to the carbon footprint of a company’s supply chain; they are also referred to as value chain emissions and often represent most of a company’s GHG emissions.

Petrochemicals companies are coming under increased pressure to publish their emissions record, both internally and externally.

However, most producers have shied away from full disclosure; the Netherlands-headquartered producer DSM has been one of the few companies to commit to make public Scope 3 emissions.

Thierry Le Henaff added that the process to establish with full transparency the emissions a company is responsible for, is a difficult and time-consuming process but added that Arkema aims to do so.

“Sustainability marks the way we make our products, and we look at this both internally and externally; [we look at] the footprint of our suppliers but this is all very complex, and it takes time,” said Le Henaff.

“But the company is looking at it. Our strategy includes the divestment of our fluorochemicals operations, which will reduce our carbon footprint massively.”

Highly polluting fluorogases are used in end markets like refrigerants, foam blowing agents for foams, solvents, or propellants for aerosols, among others.

The CEO was asked twice when Arkema would be publishing its Scope 3 emissions record but would not specify.

Asked whether he would put a date for publication, he said: “It’s a fair question and we are going in this direction.”

MACRON: ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Le Henaff said the economic reforms carried out by France’s President Emmanuel Macron in the past three years had been good for the chemicals sector, which historically has demanded more support from public bodies to remain competitive globally.

The CEO praised the reforms resulting in lower corporate taxes as well as incentives for research and development (R&D), measures which, he said, were on the right track to support the industry.

France is to hold a presidential election in 2022, with the incumbent President holding options to be re-elected in the second round, according to opinion polls.

“The stuff done in the past three years has been good. There have been some elements on lower taxes for companies, on support for certain industries, and on new forms of energy that are on the right direction in terms of [keeping French chemicals’ global] competitiveness,” said Le Henaff.

Front page picture: Arkema’s headquarters in Colombes, outside Paris
Source: Arkema

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