PODCAST: EPCA president Hartwig Michels on the low-carbon challenge and supply-chain, logistics crisis

Will Beacham

23-Nov-2021

BARCELONA (ICIS)–Obtaining vast amounts of renewable energy, plus a more supportive regulatory environment, are most important for Europe’s petrochemical industry on its path to low-carbon production.

In this Think Tank podcast, hear Hartwig Michels, president of the European Petrochemical Association and head of BASF’s global petrochemical operations, in conversation with Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting and Nigel Davis, ICIS Insight editor.

  • Availability of green electricity is the key challenge for low-carbon chemical production
  • Decline in refinery petrochemical feedstocks will push recycling
  • Out of 30m tonnes/year of plastic waste in Europe, 70% is not recycled
  • Chemical industry must accelerate down path to net zero
  • Sustainability will have a cost for industry and society
  • Supply-chain, logistics crisis could last at least six months
  • Container logistics still disrupted, prices rising again
  • Supply shortages, higher prices impact customers
  • Record-breaking gas, electricity prices push up production costs
  • Slowing demand may alleviate supply-chain woes
  • Short-term and long-term approaches required to strengthen supply chains

Click here to listen to the podcast

Editor’s note: This podcast is an opinion piece. The views expressed are those of the presenter and interviewees, and do not necessarily represent those of ICIS.

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