Today’s Chemicals Industry is built on hydrocarbons – as feedstock, primarily naphtha/crude oil, or as energy, often natural gas, oil or coal-based power and steam generation.  As such, the Chemicals Industry is a significant man-made CO2 contributor.  In the light of climate change and CO2-discussions, the industry wants to become climate neutral by 2050.

Questions arise:  What is the most efficient and effective way to achieve this target? Should we start by transforming energy generation towards fully renewable sources and electrify boilers, distillation units, melting and heating processes? Or should we use resource and climate efficient feedstocks that carry a CO2 bonus? Or should we just continue current practices but start to capture and store the unwanted CO2 for future use? What is the right way forward – technologically, commercially and politically?

The presentation will offer some strong hypotheses meant as food and energy – hydrocarbons – for thought and discussion.

Speakers:

• Dr. Wolfgang Falter – Partner, Global Chemicals Leader and Oil, Gas & Chemicals Sector Leader Central Europe, Deloitte
• Willem Vaessen, Ph.D. – Partner, Chemicals Leader in The Netherlands, Deloitte

This session is led by Deloitte, a global business advisory firm.

We encounter risks daily but only pay attention to some while ignoring others. How do people decide what to worry about and what not to? Why do they so often worry about relatively small or scientifically unsubstantiated risks while blithely accepting risks that are much more serious?

In this talk, Dan Gardner examines the psychology of risk perception and locates the roots of misperception in thought processes shaped by evolution that are often unsuitable for the problems of the modern world. He then turns to the challenge of communication. The usual response to misperceptions is to loudly cite science and statistics. This seldom changes minds. So what will? Gardner shows that effective communications must be grounded in an understanding of the psychology that drives perceptions.

With a focus on the irrational fear of chemicals, Gardner’s talk will help you understand seemingly inexplicable public reactions and what to do about them.

Speaker:

• Dan Gardner – Author and Consultant, Tactix

A consultant with the Ottawa-headquartered firm Tactix, Dan Gardner is also a New York Times best-selling author of three books about risk and forecasting. His books, including “Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear” have been published in 25 countries and 19 languages.

This session will explore how companies can reinvent their business models to win in the circular age.

The dynamics around circularity in chemicals are unfolding faster, and in more diverse ways, than previously expected. Regulation is on the uptick, brand owners are announcing voluntary commitments, venture capital-backed start-up activity is happening, polymer producers are entering the recycling value chain, and more. As a result, new value chain collaboration models will emerge and demand patterns and business models will dramatically change. Chemical companies will need to make some strategic bets to succeed in this new reality.

Speakers:

• Rachael Bartels – Senior Managing Director, Global Chemicals & Natural Resources Lead – Accenture
• Bernd Elser – Managing Director – Chemicals Strategy Lead, Europe – Accenture

This session is led by Accenture, a multinational professional services company that provides services in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations.

This session addresses the fundamental threats facing the European chemical industry, and the corporate responses that will be necessary to defend its position in challenging times.

Historically, Europe has defended itself from low cost external competition thanks to an ongoing focus on technological innovation.  In the coming decades, structural threats to the industry will only increase.  Transport decarbonisation and the circular economy will alter the feedstock mix, and Europe’s leading role in driving these changes will mean that local producers are particularly affected.  Meanwhile, producers outside Europe will continue to leverage low cost feedstock availability, while rapidly closing the technology gap.

For Europe, investment in novel technical capabilities, optimisation of renewable and fossil hydrocarbon sources, and the promotion of cost-competitive energy systems will be required in the face of these threats.  Nexant will offer advice on the technological options best suited to surviving and thriving in the medium to long term.

Speaker:

• Mr Baudouin Kelecom – ExxonMobil and Chair of ICCA’s Responsible Care Leadership Group
• Mr Rodolfo Lacy – Director of Environment, OECD
• Mr Peter Webb – Director, Beyond Risks

Moderator:

• Mr William Garcia – Executive Director of HSE and Responsible Care, Cefic

The session is facilitated by Nexant Limited, an international hydrocarbon and power sector consulting organization active on projects and advising clients in all regions around the world. 

This session will explore digital transformation in the working life, specifically will concentrate on the following topics

• Digitalisation as a growing trend
• Urgent need for European youth to acquire STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills
• Showcase how business can play a leading role in driving skills of the future

Many businesses, particularly from the chemical sector, demand highly-qualified employees with STEM skills and scientists with high-level of molecular understanding. This session will showcase how businesses can play a central role in fostering STEM skills thanks to the contribution of various leading actors, including a representative of a chemical company, chemical employers group, youth representative, etc.

Speakers:

• Mr Mika Aalto, Director General, Chemical Industry Federation Finland
• Mr Tommi Himberg – Councellor, Education and Science, Permanent Delegation of Finland to the OECD
• Ms Hannele Jakosuo-Jansson – Senior Vice President – Human Resources, Safety and Procurement, Neste
• Mr Nestori Lautanala – Former Summer Trainee and Youth Representative, Chemical Industry Federation Finland
• Ms Anni Siltanen – Senior Advisor Skills and Competence, Chemical Industry Federation Finland
• Mr Xin Wang – Senior Business Adviser, Helsinki Business Hub

Moderator(s)

• ECEG/Kemianteollisuus

This session is jointly facilitated by Kemianteollisuus and the European Chemical Employers Group (ECEG). Kemianteollisuus is the Finnish chemical industry federation, while ECEG is a recognised social partner on the EU level representing chemical employers’ interests opposite trade unions and the European institutions.

This session, led by ECHA Executive Director, Bjorn Hansen, will provide an open discussion for participants to gain insight on ECHA’s three strategic priorities for the years 2019-2023.

The first priority is to identify substances of concern and manage risks; with the aim of accelerating data generation and regulatory actions. The second priority is for the safe and sustainable use of chemicals by the industry, by striving for sustainability and innovation. The third priority, sustainable management of chemicals through the implementation of EU legislation, aims to ensure a greater level of protection where synergies exist.

Industry and authorities, together with the EU, are working to improve the quality of REACH registration data, and further synergies are needed in the future. To meet the EU’s ambition of a circular economy and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we need to increase efficiency and integration, improve consistency and transparency, and ensure adequate resources to foster the safe and sustainable use of chemicals.

Speaker:

• Mr. Bjorn Hansen, Executive Director – ECHA

ECHA is a body of the European Union which manages technical, scientific and administrative aspects of REACH, as well as the classification and labelling of chemical substances.

This session will showcase how management frameworks like Responsible Care can enhance the overall business performance of chemical companies, leading to best-in-class operations.

In a fast-changing landscape, businesses must manage complex global operations while also meeting customer, and stakeholders’ expectations. This means managing risks, offering quality products at affordable prices, while caring for their people, communities and the environment and fulfilling their social responsibility. All with the end game of having an efficient, profitable and ethical business.

Consistent with international standards and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Responsible Care offers companies a journey towards excellence in chemical management along the supply chain. Join this interactive session to discover how, through using a comprehensive and user-friendly self-assessment tool, companies can better identify their actions towards the continuous improvement for all matters related to health, safety, security, environmental performance and Corporate Social Responsibility.

This session is led by Cefic’s Responsible Care team. Responsible Care is a voluntary commitment by the global chemical industry to drive continuous improvement and achieve excellence in environmental, health and safety and security performance.