Lower Carbon, Circular, Safer Silicone Materials: Meeting Changing Market Expectations for Greater Sustainability

Our Industry-Leading Low Carbon Footprint

In early 2024, the Global Silicones Council published a report titled, "Update of the Si-Chemistry Carbon Balance," highlighting that on average, the greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits of silicone products are 14 times greater than production and end-of-life impacts. This underscores the significant environmental benefits of silicones in mitigating the climate impact of modern society. As a responsible manufacturer, it also fuels our drive to further increase that benefit multiplier through continuous improvement.

Elkem’s reporting and analysis reveals that our silicones manufactured in Europe and the Americas have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry, approximately 30% lower than the industry average as calculated by the Global Silicones Council. By sourcing silicones from Elkem, customers can effectively move toward their Scope 3 emissions reduction targets and lower their product carbon footprint (PCF), aligning with the increasing demand for environmentally responsible products.

Producing Silicon Metal More Sustainably

Elkem’s silicon-metal supply, the primary raw material for manufacturing silicones, is sourced from some of the most climate-advantaged smelting operations globally, leveraging Norway’s abundant hydroelectricity. The company is progressively replacing fossil coal with bio-sourced carbon in the smelting process, aiming to increase its share from 20% to 50%. Additionally, Elkem is evaluating carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and use (CCU) to achieve carbon neutrality in smelting operations by 2050. 

Elkem’s commitment to reducing its operational footprint is also evident in regions where grids are less renewable-based, such as Asia. The company reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 9.5% in 2023 compared to 2022 and uses 83% renewable electricity across its global operations.

Decarbonising Silicone Manufacturing Operations

Elkem has spearheaded projects to decarbonise its energy mix and enhance energy efficiency at its largest silicones manufacturing operations in France. Utilising a highly decarbonised electricity mix, Elkem continues to improve its energy mix by replacing higher-emission energy sources with cleaner alternatives through new supply partnerships. For instance, a partnership with a nearby waste management company supplies lower-carbon steam to Elkem’s operations in Roussillon, France, further reducing CO₂ emissions by 180,000 metric tons.

Spearheading Silicones Circularity

Elkem is developing technologies and processes to maximise raw material value, starting with in-house industrial waste. The company is committed to extending its circularity solutions to more silicone waste streams, diverting valuable materials from incineration and landfills. Industry-leading examples include:

• Mechanical recycling focused on the recycling of cured and cross-linked elastomeric material waste. The RENOV project, coordinated by Elkem, aims to develop technologies for mechanical recycling, allowing the reincorporation of recycled products into existing and new applications.

• Chemical recycling to allow the production of new silicone products with performance and purity levels identical to virgin silicones, significantly reducing waste and cutting their carbon footprint by up to 70%. In 2024, Elkem launched a first-of-its-kind pilot plant in Saint-Fons, France, using depolymerisation chemistry to enable circularity for silicone waste.

Protecting Health & the Environment with Safer Materials

For 120 years, Elkem has refined its processes to enhance efficiency, safety, and environmental protection. We are implementing Sustainable Portfolio Management (SPM) tools to integrate sustainability into business decisions, anticipating risks and opportunities in the product portfolio. Developing better solutions together in a timely manner across the value chain is a key pilar of our Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approach.

Recent SSbD product developments include:

• Low-VOC (volatile organic compound) formulation with BLUESIL™ TCS 7538 LE for textile coating operations
• Safer, alternative linear solvent in MIRASIL™ D-DML VT formulation for personal care, replacing higher molecular weight dimethiconol gum
• An alternative, MEKO-free silicone product portfolio for the building and construction industry
• Safer, lower power curing that improve customers’ footprint with products like SILCOLEASE™ UV POLY 125 & 126, BLUESIL™ RT Foams and BLUESIL™ RTV 3724.
• Innovations to improve the water and energy efficiency of plastic recyclers like SILCOLAPSE™ EASY 10: a new-generation silicone antifoam agent

In 2024, Elkem also joined PLANETS, a Horizon Europe Project whereby a consortium of organizations aims to demonstrate the applicability of the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design Draft Framework published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, while developing new alternatives for three of the most challenging groups of molecules: plasticizers, flame retardants and surfactants.

Increasing the Bio-Based Content of Materials

Elkem is focused on developing sustainable raw materials, including bio-based carriers and solvents. Products like MIRASIL™ N-DML 15 and PURESIL™ ORG 02 offer high natural content, meeting the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products.

 

Supporting Customers & the Green Transition

Elkem’s continuous improvement efforts and commitment to Sustainable Portfolio Management help customers grow more sustainably and support society’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

We are eager to collaborate with partners across the value chain to accelerate decarbonization, circularity and adoption of carbon-advantaged silicone solutions. If you share our passion for safer, more sustainable materials, reach out  and visit our blog for development updates that can help quicken your pace toward your sustainability targets.