Arkema Becomes First Chemical Company Validated Under New SBTi Guidance

French specialty chemicals company Arkema has become the first company to receive validation under the Science Based Targets initiative's (SBTi) new guidance for the chemical industry. Announced on 3 November 2026, SBTi Services validated the company's new greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for 2035 and its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3 by 2050. The long-term target requires Arkema to reduce absolute emissions by 90% from a 2019 baseline, with neutralization reserved for the remaining 10% of residual emissions.

 

Under its validated 2035 targets, Arkema has committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 58.07% compared with 2019. This includes a 22.39% reduction in Scope 1 emissions from non-primary chemical production and a 78.44% reduction in its remaining Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The company has also committed to reducing absolute Scope 3 emissions by 68.57% by 2035 from the same baseline. These differentiated targets reflect the sector-specific requirements introduced under SBTi's Chemical Sector Pathways and Implementation Criteria.

 

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Arkema plans to support its decarbonization strategy through a cumulative investment program of up to €400 million between 2022 and 2035, focusing on industrial process improvements and energy efficiency. The company will also continue transitioning towards lower-carbon energy sources and reducing emissions across its value chain. Its Scope 3 strategy includes gradually shifting away from more emissions-intensive activities towards lower-carbon alternatives and supporting suppliers in their own decarbonization efforts.

 

The new commitments follow Arkema's reported early achievement of its previous 2030 climate targets. The company, which operates across specialty materials, adhesives, coatings and industrial chemicals, is aligning its climate strategy with demand for lower-carbon products. Emmanuelle Bromet, Sustainable Development Vice President at Arkema, said, "The validation by SBTi Services of our 2035 and 2050 targets marks another important milestone in our climate journey."

 

The validation establishes Arkema's emissions-reduction commitments against criteria developed specifically for the chemical sector, where industrial processes and energy requirements present substantial decarbonization challenges. However, SBTi Services validates the alignment of corporate climate targets with its standards rather than verifying that future reductions will be achieved. Arkema's progress will depend on delivering its planned investments, reducing operational emissions, and achieving measurable reductions throughout its supply chain.

 

Source: Arkema