Chemicals

If your company operates in the chemicals sector, now is the time to take decisive climate action. Explore our latest resources and start setting science-based targets that position your business for long-term success.

View the chemicals pathways criteria document

Science-based targets for chemicals companies

We have published new pathways and supporting criteria tailored to the chemicals sector, giving companies practical tools to lead the net-zero transformation. The SBTi Chemical Sector Pathways and Implementation Criteria defines how much and how quickly companies must reduce emissions to align with global climate goals—providing a clearer, more actionable path for credible climate action.

Chemicals manufacturers can begin their climate journey today with a comprehensive suite of resources designed to help business turn ambition into action:

SBTi Chemical Sector Pathways and Implementation Criteria ('pathways criteria document'): Outlines pathways and calculation criteria to address the most emission-intensive sources in the sector.
SBTi Chemicals in Brief: Summarizes the key elements of the pathways criteria document.
Explanatory Document: Provides informative guidance on relevant topics for target setting.
SBTi Chemicals Target-Setting Tool: Helps companies in developing targets.
SBTi Services Chemicals Criteria Assessment Indicators: Details the major checks conducted by SBTi Services during the validation process.
SBTi Services Chemicals Annex: Companies choosing to set targets following the pathways criteria document must complete this Annex.

Begin your target setting journey

Designed for use alongside the Corporate Net-Zero Standard and the Corporate Near-Term Criteria, these resources help chemical companies set targets to transition towards net-zero aligned business models.

By setting science-based targets in line with the new pathways, companies can demonstrate climate leadership, drive innovation, and strengthen investor and consumer confidence—all while enhancing long-term business resilience and competitiveness in a carbon-constrained world.

Who are these resources intended for?

The Chemical Sector Pathways and Implementation Criteria applies to companies involved in the production of primary, base, intermediate, specialty, and consumer chemicals, as well as pharmaceuticals, and chemical recycling activities. It might also be useful for other companies, such as those that purchase significant volumes of primary chemicals.

It recognizes the diversity of processes and emissions profiles across the industry, providing activity-specific pathways tailored to priority emissions sources, including:

Pathways for the most emissions-intensive primary chemicals, including ammonia, methanol and high-value chemicals.
A pathway for nitrous oxide emissions generated in the production of nitric acid.
A pathway for non-primary chemicals production.
A pathway for reducing use-phase nitrous oxide emissions from the application of nitrogen fertilizers.
A pathway to increase the use of alternative feedstocks used in the production of chemicals.

Together, these pathways reflect the different operational realities of the sector and resulting emissions portfolio, providing chemical manufacturers with a clear, actionable roadmap to align with net-zero.

Why take action?

The chemicals sector sits at the center of the global economy and plays a critical role in the transition to net-zero. As the largest industrial energy consumer and the third highest contributor of global emissions, the sector faces growing climate-related risks—nearly half of chemical sector assets held by financial institutions are exposed to water stress. Companies have a unique opportunity to seize the many benefits of science-based target setting while playing their part in working towards global climate goals.

How do businesses in the chemicals sector set emissions reduction targets?

The SBTi's wholly-owned subsidiary, SBTi Services, checks and validates the science-based targets of corporates, financial institutions, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

By validating your targets with SBTi Services, you will:

Demonstrate that your climate goals are robust and credible to investors and customers.
Ensure your targets for reducing emissions are aligned with the latest climate science.
Gain reassurance that your goals will remain relevant in the near- and long-term through re-validation by SBTi Services following mandatory target recalculation.

So what are you waiting for? Visit the SBTi Services website to get started today!

Project participants

The SBTi developed this project with support of Guidehouse. Participation was possible via the following groups:

Expert Advisory Group (EAG): Composed of technical experts from academia, research, non-profit, multilateral organizations and companies who served in a voluntary advisory capacity throughout the development of the project. The project’s EAG consisted of individuals from the following organizations:

Guillaume De Smedt - Air Liquide
Anil Patel - Air Products
Melissa Wang - University of Exeter
Christoph Jaekel - BASF
Kurt Vinck - Borealis Polymers NV
Eric de Deckere - Cefic
Dan Smith - Center for Green Market Activation
Ibrahim Eryazici - Dow Inc.
Rebecca Horton - Eastman Chemical Company
Thea Lyngseth - Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS)
Avinash Chandra - Indorama Ventures PCL.
Fredric Bauer - Lund University
Korede Akinpelumi - LyondellBasell
Rose Turner - Nutrien
Soumaya Benzennou - OCP Group
Aidan Shilson Thomas - ShareAction
Megha Nath - Sustainable Communities India
Seyed Alireza Modirzadeh - Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) Centre
Fanran Meng - University of Sheffield
Zach Byrum - World Resources Institute (WRI)
Johan Widheden - World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
Fahad Saleem - Yara International ASA

Other contributing members

Sarah Torkamani - Supported during consultation phases
Laura Väyrynen - Supported during consultation phases
Arnaud Hollinger - Supported during research, drafting, and consultation phases
Michelle Nutting - Supported during research, drafting, and consultation phases
Trine Kopperud - Supported during research, drafting, and consultation phases
Jana Hock - Supported during research, drafting, and consultation phases

Experts from Braskem and LANXESS also supported the project during the research and drafting phases

EAG members volunteered in a personal capacity to provide technical advice over the duration of the project. While their expertise helped guide the development process, final content decisions rested solely with the SBTi. As a result, the final output does not necessarily represent or imply endorsement by individual EAG members or their employers.

General stakeholder consultation. Both industry and non-industry representatives provided feedback on each project component through the two public consultations and pilot phases. Relevant resources can be found in the Resources section below.

The following organizations provided initial financial support:

Air Liquide
Air Products
BASF
Indorama Ventures PCL
LyondellBasell
Nutrien
Yara International ASA

Development process

Project launch: The SBTi Chemicals Project started in 2020, researching the barriers, challenges, and opportunities for chemical companies to set science-based targets. In 2023 we released the Chemicals Sector Status Report offering insights into the sector’s climate impact and outlining SBTi’s approach to this industry. Read the project Terms of Reference (TOR) for further details.
Public consultation: We held two public consultations for expert feedback on the draft resources: from May to July 2024 and November 2024 to January 2025. Between these periods, we revised the resources based on input received. Read the first and second public consultation feedback reports.
Pilot testing: During Q1 2025 companies in the chemicals sector piloted the criteria and tool using their datasets to help identify potential improvements and assess applicability. Read the pilot testing feedback report.
Final publication: Feedback from the second public consultation and pilot participants was extensively reviewed, and the updated deliverables sent to the SBTi Technical Council. Following its agreement and Board adoption, the final resources were issued in December 2025.