Sustainability Starts with Chemistry
Chemistry is the Science Behind Sustainability, playing an integral role in addressing and solving our world’s sustainability challenges.
Quite simply, you can’t have progress in sustainability without chemistry.
Think about it – chemistry innovations are found in just about every product manufactured in the U.S. and around the world. And ACC members are developing and deploying safe, innovative, effective chemical products and technologies that are key to advancing sustainability.
Chemistry companies are solutions providers – manufacturing key inputs for solar panels and wind turbines, durable high-performance building materials, lightweight vehicle parts, to EV infrastructure, advanced battery storage, semiconductors, and more. These are the products that will build our future, and you need chemistry for every one of them.
When Chemistry Creates, America Competes. ACC and its members are advancing responsible, sustainable manufacturing processes to create the products crucial not only to their business success, but also to building a more sustainable future.
Perspective from Chris Jahn, President and CEO, American Chemistry Council
I’m proud to announce the American Chemistry Council is launching its 2024 Sustainability Report. A lot of industries talk about their commitment to sustainability. But the chemical industry is driving progress and making a difference.
We have spent years developing and advancing sustainable solutions to address myriad global challenges, from climate change to enabling clean air and water to waste reduction and more. And our actions provide a roadmap for sustainability that other industries can follow.
Think about it – chemistry innovations are found in just about every product manufactured in the United States and around the world. Companies and industries need the chemical industry to provide them with real-world sustainable solutions. And we do – ACC members work side-by-side with customers to deliver solutions that improve people’s lives.
One of many sustainability challenges with a chemistry solution is climate change. The chemical industry is taking action to mitigate the impacts of their products and operations and invest in nascent and growing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The fact is, you can’t fight climate change without chemistry. Chemistry creates renewable energy solutions like solar panels and wind turbines, durable high-performance building materials, lightweight vehicle parts, EV infrastructure, advanced battery storage, high-tech electrical products, composite materials; the list goes on. These are the products that will build our future, and you need chemistry for every one of them. And we also need the right policies and the right infrastructure in place to make this possible.
To enable sustainability progress, we must be able to grow our manufacturing processes to continue to make crucial chemical products and technologies here in the United States. Unfortunately, right now our industry is wrestling with a massive increase in regulations. This is handicapping our industry’s ability to create products that support national priorities and contribute to broader sustainability goals.
Administration and Congressional leaders say they support domestic manufacture of products and technologies like semiconductors, electric cars, clean energy and innovative construction materials. Yet, without appropriate oversight and sound science to drive regulation, critical chemistries will suffer, along with the sustainability innovations, jobs and economic opportunities that rely on them.
American success relies on American chemistry. We need federal, state and local governments to advance smart, science-based regulations that support, rather than hinder, innovation in the United States. We need rapid investment in infrastructure development, use of diverse energy sources and a modernized permitting process to enable U.S. manufacturing growth.
ACC and its members want to work with the Administration, regulators and Congress – to empower chemistry and the sustainable solutions it provides. Our success – and the success of sustainability innovation – depends on it.
To sum it up, the U.S. chemical manufacturing industry is open for business. And we urge all of you – our customers, our value chain stakeholders, and our leaders – to join us, to enable the innovations and advancements that improve our world and the lives of people living in it.
Sincerely,
Chris Jahn
President & CEO
American Chemistry Council