Embracing Sustainability: The Growing Importance of Sustainable Chemistry

In an exclusive interaction with Industry Outlook, Bhavana Bindra, Managing Director - IMEA, The Lubrizol Corporation, discusses the sustainable chemistry and the significance of integrating circular economy principles to transform chemical manufacturing, reduce waste, and enhance resource efficiency. She emphasized that this shift is critical as India moves towards becoming a global manufacturing hub. Bhavana is a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience at global companies such as The Lubrizol Corporation, Cummins, and DSM, specializing in business strategy, sales, and P&L management. Recognized among Economic Times' '40 Under Forty' leaders.

How is the landscape of sustainable chemistry evolving within chemical manufacturing today, and how is circular economy integration shaping this transformation?

Prioritizing sustainable practices to reduce our environmental impact will be crucial as India continues its path to becoming a global manufacturing hub. The integration of circular economy principles is playing a pivotal role in this transformation as we emphasize the reduction, reuse, and recycling of resources to minimize waste and maximize the use of raw materials. By embracing circular economy practices, Indian chemical manufacturers can reduce their environmental impact while also discovering new opportunities for innovation and cost savings.

At Lubrizol, our focus on climate, conservation, and circularity enables us to contribute to global and local sustainability throughout our value chain. Beyond the steps we are taking at our sites, we collaborate with suppliers who share our commitment to ethical business practices and sustainability. Our Supplier Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for members of our supply chain, including compliance with environmental laws, efficient use of natural resources, and product quality and safety. We have also identified tools and metrics to support sustainable sourcing opportunities and meet customer expectations, as well as enhancing our expertise in product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to improve product carbon footprint and manufacturing choices.

Can you highlight how the adoption of sustainable chemistry principles has significantly improved operational efficiency and environmental impact?

Because a commitment to sustainability has always been at the heart of our corporate purpose, sustainability has been a priority in our day-to-day operations and decision-making processes.

We have known for some time that the steps we take for the good of the environment are likely to also have added benefits, like operational efficiency.

At Lubrizol, we see sustainability through our handprint, which we think of as the impact of our solutions in the products that help our customers better serve consumers. We also see sustainability through our footprint, which we think of as the sustainable impact of our operations. Our goal is to ensure our solutions bring more positive effects to the environment and society than the footprint it takes to produce them.

Lubrizol’s additive products help reduce emissions, including CO2, from vehicle transportation all around the world. In India, where demand is high for consumer goods like refrigerators, we are enabling progress for low global warming potential in refrigeration and cooling technology that eliminates CFCs and HFCs. In beauty and skin care, we are delivering bio-based and biodegradable ingredients.

The same dedication to sustainability applies to our manufacturing sites. We are looking at ways to ensure our CPVC piping material is not only delivering clean drinking water around the world but also producing a lower environmental impact. We are also actively looking at ways to source more of the energy we use from renewable sources like wind, solar, and biomass.

We are continuously searching for new ways to innovate and bring efficiency to our processes, thereby conserving resources. For example, the primary raw material in our new CPVC production facility will be transported from our partner, Grasim, to Lubrizol through a sustainable pipeline delivery network. This method ensures a safe and eco-friendly delivery option and will reduce reliance on other transportation modes.

As we look to the future, we are examining ways to make our energy use more efficient in our facilities, such as replacing boilers in some of our facilities with heat pumps.

 In what ways does incorporating sustainable chemistry principles impact product innovation and differentiation in the chemical manufacturing industry?

All of Lubrizol’s locations in India – including commercial offices, labs, and manufacturing plants – share an unwavering commitment to sustainability, aligning with Lubrizol locations worldwide. As we continue to expand in this country that is vital to our growth, every day presents an opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment.

Our local-for-local approach is having a big impact in India, as it means we are investing in labs and plants that will allow us to develop products for the region in the region. We are building the world’s largest CPVC resin plant in Vilayet, Gujaret, and planning to break ground next year on a plant in Aurangabad, India. These will add to the local facilities we already have in India, greatly expanding our ability to serve our customers and reducing the need to transport materials from other parts of the world.

Looking ahead into the next decade, what are the key technological advancements or innovations in sustainable chemistry that chemical manufacturers should prepare for to stay competitive and sustainable?

The circular economy is likely to expand significantly as companies find new ways to minimize waste and reimagine their resources. Re-refined base oils, renewable feedstocks, and renewable solvents are all in demand now and will benefit from innovations that can improve the availability of those products.

Data science is already providing ways to speed up testing, bring new insights, and deliver innovations faster. We expect to see even more breakthroughs from companies like Lubrizol which already have deep testing capabilities and are able to combine knowledge, science, and technical expertise through data science. To stay competitive, chemical manufacturers have to understand that data science is critical to maximizing the insights from material science or risk being left behind.