Kevin Norfleet, Global Head of Sustainability, Celanese
The 2024 CIEX North America conference in Indianapolis was a tremendous success, bringing together chemical leaders to share cutting-edge advancements, discusses real-world case studies from global players and building lasting professional connections. The event stood out by fostering meaningful synergies and creating opportunities for collaboration among potential partners.
To give you a glimpse of the insights shared, we are excited to feature an article based on one of the event presentations—delivered by Celanese’s Global Head of Sustainability, Kevin Norfleet. You can explore the session summary here or listen to the full audio presentation on our YouTube channel.
As industries worldwide seek sustainable solutions to reduce carbon emissions, Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) is emerging as a game-changer. One of its most promising applications is methanol production, a vital component in numerous industrial and consumer products. By adopting CCU, we can move toward a circular carbon economy, minimizing reliance on fossil resources and significantly lowering emissions.
CCU technology plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions by capturing CO2 and converting it into valuable products. Kevin emphasizes that the chemical industry must move beyond theoretical discussions and take practical steps toward implementation. “We could talk about CCU till we’re blue in the face, but if we insist on the perfect solution—using only green hydrogen and direct air capture CO2—the costs will be so extraordinary that nothing’s ever going to happen,” he notes. Instead, he advocates for incremental advancements that align with current economic realities.
“We could talk about CCU till we’re blue in the face, but if we insist on the perfect solution—using only green hydrogen and direct air capture CO2—the costs will be so extraordinary that nothing’s ever going to happen.”
One of the key applications of CCU is the production of methanol, a versatile chemical that serves as a building block for numerous industrial processes. Kevin explains, “With methanol, we then make an incredible array of things… turning methanol into acetic acid, which then transforms into adhesives, construction materials, and other essential products.” By utilizing CO2-derived methanol, industries can significantly lower their carbon footprint while maintaining supply chain stability.
Despite the clear environmental benefits of CCU, regulatory frameworks often lag behind technological advancements. Kevin Norfleet points out the inconsistencies in policy approaches, particularly in Europe. “Within the same regulatory environment, mass balance accounting is accepted for sustainable aviation fuel but rejected for building products,” he observes. This fragmentation makes it difficult for industries to scale sustainable innovations, despite growing consumer and corporate interest in carbon footprint reduction.
Another significant challenge is the disconnect between demand signals along the supply chain. Many large corporations have ambitious sustainability goals but struggle to translate them into actionable procurement strategies. “Oftentimes, demand signals are lost in long supply chains, where smaller intermediaries lack the resources to track and communicate carbon footprint data,” Kevin explains. To address this, he stresses the need for clearer commercial structures that integrate sustainability into pricing models and business agreements.
“Oftentimes, demand signals are lost in long supply chains, where smaller intermediaries lack the resources to track and communicate carbon footprint data.”
One of the key takeaways from Norfleet’s presentation is the economic viability of CCU, particularly in industrial hubs like Houston, where CO2 emissions are abundant. “We don’t think there’s ever going to be a shortage of CO2,” he notes, underscoring the potential to harness these emissions for sustainable production. The challenge, however, lies in making the business case compelling enough for widespread adoption.
Celanese has taken a pragmatic approach by ensuring that CCU-derived methanol meets robust sustainability credentials while remaining commercially viable. Norfleet emphasizes that the ultimate goal is to demonstrate market demand: “What success looks like is if I can sell all of this CCU methanol we made and prove that there is a market—then we can go do more.”
CCU methanol represents a critical step toward a more sustainable industrial landscape. While challenges remain, the potential benefits—both environmental and economic—make it a worthwhile pursuit. By fostering collaboration, refining regulations, and creating commercial structures that reward sustainability, we can unlock the full potential of CCU and redefine the future of chemical production.
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