How to use sustainability as a strategic lever and increase company value - a practical guide for petrochemical companies navigating the green transition.
The corporate sustainability landscape has never been more complex. Petrochemical companies face a growing range of standards, methodologies, and expectations around emissions, supply chain transparency, and climate strategy. But sustainability is not only a compliance challenge. Done well, it is a strategic lever for differentiation, credibility and long-term value creation.
EPCA's Net-Zero Transition Committee, in partnership with Guidehouse, has developed a guide to offer a practical, structured framework for navigating this landscape. It is designed for companies at all stages of their sustainability journey - from those taking their first steps in carbon accounting to those looking to strengthen their product-level sustainability claims and investor communications.
This guide covers:
- Chapter A: How a sustainability strategy can increase a companies’ value
How to justify that your products are more sustainable through Product Carbon Footprints (PCF), Chain of Custody (CoC) models, certification schemes (ISCC PLUS, REDcert², RSB), and value chain collaboration platforms. - Chapter B: Elements of a corporate climate strategy
How to measure emissions using the GHG Protocol, set science-based targets (SBTi), and disclose progress credibly through frameworks including CDP, GRI, ISSB, and TCFD.
Key initiatives and methodologies covered:
- Greenhouse Gas Protocol
- Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
- Center for Decarbonization Demand Acceleration (CDDA – part of WBCSD)
- ISO 14077 and ISO 22095
- ISO/DIS 13662A
- Catena-X
- ISCC PLUS
- REDcert2
- RSB Global
- Green Market Activation / AIM Platform
- Together for Sustainability (TfS)
The purpose of this work is to clarify the landscape of these initiatives and methodologies related to greenhouse gas accounting, target setting, and certification schemes. It supports decision-making by explaining broader categories of guidance rather than delving into deep technical detail of individual initiatives and methodologies, and, to explain the narrative, positions sustainability as a strategic lever for business value - enabling differentiation, building brand credibility, and enhancing long-term valuation. The guide can also be used just to get a better understanding of these sustainability-related initiatives and methodologies.
About the Net-Zero Transition Committee
Launched in 2024, EPCA's Net-Zero Transition Committee brings together industry leaders committed to accelerating decarbonization across the petrochemical value chain.
Learn more about EPCA's Net-Zero Transition Committee
For questions about this publication, contact the committee at netzero.committee@epca.eu
