Supply chain decarbonization is becoming a strategic priority for chemical procurement teams as companies face growing pressure to reduce emissions beyond their own operations. In the EU, net greenhouse gas emissions fell by 40% between 1990 and 2024, according to the European Environment Agency’s official assessment of key trends and drivers in EU greenhouse gas emissions, while the EU continues to pursue climate neutrality by 2050. This transition increasingly puts the carbon footprint of raw materials, manufacturing and supply chains under scrutiny.
For the chemical industry, the shift is particularly significant. According to the European Environment Agency, in 2021, the EU chemical industry emitted 155,495 kilotonnes of CO₂ equivalent, accounting for 5% of total net EU greenhouse gas emissions. Of these chemical-industry emissions, 67% came from fuel combustion and 33% from industrial processes and product use.
As a result, sustainable sourcing, green chemistry, and lower-carbon alternatives are becoming increasingly relevant to procurement decisions. At Nedstar, we help businesses source bio-based solvents and renewable alternatives that support broader sustainability and supply chain decarbonization targets.
Supply chain decarbonization is the process of reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated across a company’s supply chain and wider value chain. This includes emissions from raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, energy consumption, and other activities beyond a company’s own operations.
For many companies, a significant proportion of these impacts fall under Scope 3 emissions, which include indirect upstream and downstream emissions. Decarbonization therefore requires businesses to look beyond their direct carbon footprint and work with suppliers and partners to identify carbon hotspots across the entire supply chain.
In chemical procurement, this can involve selecting lower-carbon raw materials, improving energy efficiency, optimising transportation emissions, and choosing renewable alternatives where technically appropriate. Procurement teams can also use supplier data and life cycle assessment information to compare options and support measurable emission reduction strategies.
Decarbonization of the supply chain helps companies address emissions beyond their own operations and respond to the urgent need for action on climate change. It can also support regulatory requirements and wider sustainability goals aligned with the Paris Agreement through sustainable sourcing, emission reductions, and the transition to renewable energy sources.
Every sourcing decision has an impact beyond price and availability. By choosing the right raw materials, suppliers, transportation, and sourcing standards, procurement teams can influence supply chain emissions while balancing carbon intensity with quality, cost, availability, and regulatory compliance.
In chemical procurement, that influence can translate into practical action. Companies looking to decarbonise their chemical supply chain can explore bio-based solvents, renewable alternatives, and traceable supply chains while maintaining essential quality and performance requirements.
At Nedstar, we help businesses source bio-based chemicals globally, combining reliable supply, quality assurance, and documentation to support their sustainability goals.
Effective supply chain decarbonization strategies address emissions across sourcing, manufacturing, energy use, and transportation. Businesses can focus on several practical measures to reduce emissions across the value chain, including:
Chemical procurement decisions can influence emissions long before a product reaches the manufacturing line. Choosing the right raw materials, suppliers, and sourcing routes can therefore turn procurement into a practical driver of supply chain decarbonization.
At Nedstar, we offer a range of bio-based chemicals and renewable alternatives that can help procurement teams reduce reliance on fossil-based raw materials across suitable industrial applications.
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Bio-based chemical |
Renewable feedstock |
Potential applications |
Procurement consideration |
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Renewable biomass feedstocks |
Solvents, chemical manufacturing, and fuels
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Renewable alternative to fossil-derived ethanol |
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Bioethanol or biomass |
Chemical intermediates, solvents, plastics, adhesives, and textiles
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Bio-based alternative to conventional fossil-derived acetic acid |
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Bioethanol |
Coatings, adhesives, inks, pharmaceuticals, and extraction
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Bio-based alternative to conventional ethyl acetate |
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Renewable biological feedstocks and bio-based production streams |
Solvents, coatings, adhesives, plastics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and chemical manufacturing |
Can reduce reliance on fossil-based raw materials across suitable applications |
Turning decarbonization targets into measurable progress is rarely straightforward. Complex supplier networks, limited emissions data, inconsistent reporting, and hidden carbon hotspots can make it difficult to see where the biggest opportunities for reducing emissions actually lie.
The challenge becomes even greater when cost, quality, availability, performance, and regulatory compliance enter the equation. Stronger supplier partnerships, better supply chain transparency, reliable data, and innovation can help businesses move from ambitious targets towards practical, scalable change.
Meaningful supply chain decarbonization starts with practical procurement decisions. Setting clear targets, engaging suppliers, improving emissions data, and exploring renewable alternatives can turn climate ambitions into measurable action across the value chain.
For chemical procurement, choosing traceable, responsibly sourced materials is a practical place to start. Partner with Nedstar to explore bio-based chemicals and sourcing solutions that align with your quality, supply, and sustainability requirements.