Decarbonisation for chemical and pharmaceutical industry

As part of the ACHIEVE consortium, this project identifies strategies and develops a roadmap for decarbonising the chemical and pharmaceutical industry for achieving Switzerland’s net-zero target. The SWEET-funded ACHIEVE consortium, led by Empa, brings together research and industry partners to develop scalable solutions for hard-to-abate sectors and define actionable pathways toward climate neutrality.

The project identifies and evaluates greenhouse gas reduction measures based on key emission sources such as heat generation and end-of-life processes. Measures include reuse, recycling, CCUS, CDR, and substitution of fossil-based feedstocks with alternatives such as biomass, direct air capture, and green hydrogen. Each option is assessed in terms of emissions reduction potential, co-benefits, trade-offs, and infrastructure requirements, in close collaboration with industry stakeholders to ensure practical feasibility.

These measures are quantified through sector modelling to assess impacts on emissions, costs, energy demand, and technology deployment. In parallel, regulatory frameworks and market conditions are analysed to identify enabling environments and investment needs across the chemical value chain.

The findings are integrated into a net-zero roadmap for the Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical industry, presenting multiple transition pathways with quantified outcomes and policy-relevant implications. The roadmap supports decision-making by industry and policy actors and highlights synergies with circular economy approaches and related system transformations.