Saudi Basic Industries Corp. has begun production of low-carbon methanol which can be used in plastics and other end markets.
The new material can be used in the production of acrylic sheets and resins for laminate flooring and furniture panels, as well as in maritime fuel and other applications, officials with Sabic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said in a news release.
The methanol in the new portfolio has a lower carbon content than traditional materials, but has the same product specifications. Its lower carbon footprint comes from the raw material used for production. Byproduct carbon dioxide is captured from upstream processes, providing the carbon needed to make the methanol while reducing usage of traditional feedstocks.
Officials said the low-carbon chemicals portfolio is part of the company's 2050 carbon neutrality pledge and will help Sabic's customers and value chain achieve their sustainability goals. They added that more certified low carbon products in Sabic's global portfolios will be rolled out across the company's worldwide asset base.
"It is evident that the petrochemical industry plays a pivotal role in shaping a resilient and sustainable future," Chemicals Executive Vice President Olivier Thorel said. "With increasing demand for innovative materials and sustainable practices, the industry stands at the forefront of transformative trends towards carbon neutrality and a circular carbon economy."
Corporate Sustainability Vice President Fahad Al-Sherehy added Sabic is advancing technologies to support its value chains in carbon footprint reduction, including electrification, hydrogen combustion and renewable energy. The low-carbon project "is a great enabler to reduce embedded carbon emissions in the value chains of Sabic and its customers," he said.
Sabic employs more than 31,000 and is a global supplier of commodity and engineering resins. The firm has U.S. headquarters in Houston.