Beyond Carbon Neutral – Can Industrial Chemistry Go Carbon-Negative?

Climate change isn’t a distant crisis anymore. It’s here: the scorching summer heat, unexpected rainfalls, choking air in cities, etc. For decades, we have focused on reducing emissions to reach carbon neutrality: don't cut trees, plant more trees, cut back on fossil fuels, etc.

But here’s the truth: being ‘less bad’ isn’t good enough anymore. We’ve released over 1.5 trillion tonnes of CO₂ since the Industrial Revolution. Net zero just maintains the damage. 

Think about it this way: if a factory had been dumping toxic waste into a lake for over a century, would stopping the dumping be enough? Of course not.

You’d have to start cleaning the water, restoring the ecosystem, and making it safe again. That’s the leap we need to make - from slowing down the damage to actively undoing it; from carbon neutral to carbon negative. 

According to the IPCC, a United Nations body, we’ll need to remove up to 20 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually by the end of this century. Nature alone can’t keep up. Trees absorb carbon, but that is a slow, time-consuming process. So, what can be done on the ground level?

Today, industrial chemistry offers faster, scalable solutions. It captures CO₂ from the air and transforms it into everyday materials like fuels, plastics, cement, etc. Let’s explore how industrial chemistry can help us become carbon-negative.

The Science Behind Carbon-Negativity

We know what needs to be done: remove carbon from the atmosphere at a larger scale to move from carbon neutrality to carbon negativity.

But how do we actually make that happen? Two groundbreaking technologies are making this possible.

Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)

This method captures CO₂ directly from industrial processes like power plants, cement factories, chemical manufacturing, etc., and stores it deep underground, permanently locking it away from the atmosphere. For example, the Northern Lights project off Norway’s coast is one of the most ambitious carbon-negative projects on earth so far. It aims to store more than 5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2030, storing 2,600 meters below the seabed. 

Carbon Capture & Utilization (CCU)

In the next step, the captured CO₂ could be converted into valuable products instead of simply storing it. Using advanced processes like catalysis, electrochemistry, or microbes, we turn carbon from a problem into a helpful resource. It’s not just good for the planet - it’s innovative business too. Wealth from waste indeed. It’s a win-win: less carbon in the atmosphere, and more value created from what was once considered waste.

Carbon-Negative Chemistry in Action

Here are some of the most exciting developments that are already making a difference globally.

Fuel from Thin Air 

A few companies like Carbon Engineering and Climeworks have sophisticated machines that pull carbon dioxide (CO₂) straight from the air, like giant vacuums. Then, they mix this CO₂ with clean hydrogen gas (H₂), which is made from water using green energy like solar or wind. This mix turns into methanol, a liquid fuel that can then be used to make jet fuel or diesel. 

Concrete that Soaks Up Carbon 

Concrete usually gives off a lot of CO₂, but companies like CarbonCure and Carbicrete are flipping that around.

1. CarbonCure injects captured CO₂ into wet concrete. Inside, it reacts with calcium and turns into solid minerals, locking the CO₂ away forever and strengthening the concrete.
2. Carbicrete completely skips traditional cement. They use leftover steel materials and harden the concrete by pumping in CO₂, which again turns into rock-like stuff that traps the carbon. 

Microbes that Eat Carbon

Scientists at LanzaTech and the National Renewable Energy Lab have trained microbes to turn CO₂ into valuable chemicals. These organisms live in tanks, where they are fed carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. They then release chemicals like acetone (used in nail polish removers) and isopropanol (used in hand sanitizers), etc. It’s a clean way to make ingredients for personal care and the pharma industry without using fossil fuels.

Machines that Breathe Like Trees 

Companies like Global Thermostat, Climeworks, and Heirloom are pioneers in this technology. These companies are building machines that grab CO₂ straight from the air like trees, but much faster and more efficiently. They use materials that stick to CO₂ when air passes through. Once complete, the machine heats up and collects the CO₂ for storage or reuse (like turning it into fuel or building materials). Some use minerals like lime to trap CO₂ as solid rock.

Chemical Industries – Leading the Carbon-Negative Movement

As part of the value chain in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and chemical manufacturing, here’s how we and our partners can lead a carbon-negative revolution.

Pharmaceuticals

When we talk about climate change, pharma isn’t usually the first industry that comes to mind, but it should be. In fact, making medicines often creates more carbon emissions (per dollar earned) than making cars.

Surprised? What might be the big reason? It's the chemicals and energy used in making drugs, especially the solvents and complicated, multi-step processes.

But change is underway; scientists are now using captured CO₂ to make cleaner solvents, like dimethyl carbonate, safer for people and the planet. There’s also a growing shift to greener techniques like biocatalysis (using enzymes instead of harsh chemicals) and flow chemistry, which produces less waste.

Agrochemicals 

Agriculture is both a victim and a contributor to climate change. It alone is responsible for roughly 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions. A big part of that comes from how we make fertilizers and pesticides, especially synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, which take a lot of energy and release a lot of CO₂. Agriculture needs a greener path forward.

That’s where green ammonia comes in. It’s made using clean hydrogen instead of fossil fuels and can cut fertilizer-related emissions by up to 90%. Some companies are also exploring carbon-negative fertilizers made with biochar or captured CO₂, which nourish crops and help trap carbon in the soil. 

Manufacturing & Industrial Processing

Industrial manufacturing is responsible for over 20% of global CO₂ emissions, mainly from cement, steel, and chemical production. But instead of just offsetting emissions, facilities can now absorb carbon into their products.

New types of cement can lock CO₂ into the mix as they harden, cutting emissions by as much as 70%. In another research group in the UK, scientists are finding ways to turn captured carbon into building blocks of plastic, reducing our need for fossil fuels.

Some factories are even installing machines (Direct Air Capture/DAC machines) that pull CO₂ straight out of the air or from their chimneys and turn it into valuable products like fuel or raw materials. Isn't it a smart way to clean up while keeping production going?

The chemical industry has long been one of the major contributors to global CO₂ emissions. However, with a structured approach and increasing steps being taken by various companies, industrial chemistry is now evolving into a significant ally in the move from a carbon-zero to a carbon-negative zo

Scimplify – Driving Sustainable Manufacturing of Specialty Chemicals

At Scimplify, sustainability is at the heart of our operations. As we look to establish ourselves as a leading chemical manufacturer, we strive to help the chemical industry move towards a carbon-negative zone.

We specialize in the manufacturing of “Specialty Chemicals,” with a commitment to environmental stewardship and social accountability through:

• Thoughtful R&D
• Responsible Sourcing
• Sustainable Manufacturing

Our commitment is to foster a more sustainable and eco-friendly world by implementing the “12 Principles of Green Chemistry” within specialty chemicals. We believe that integrating sustainability throughout our value chain is a key strategy for supporting social development priorities and advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Are you looking for partners for sustainable chemical sourcing and manufacturing of specialty chemicals? Contact us at info@scimplify.com today!