If you only follow the headlines, you could be forgiven for thinking that sustainability has lost momentum.
But this month’s stories suggest something different.
Europe continues to explore how renewable molecules can strengthen energy independence. Companies across the chemical value chain are discussing new ways to collaborate and accelerate the transition. And businesses continue to set ambitious climate targets and develop plans to achieve them. LEO Pharma is simply the latest example of a trend that has been building for years.
The direction of travel remains remarkably consistent.
In fact, recent geopolitical developments have only reinforced the case for change. Europe’s dependence on imported fossil resources has long been a climate challenge. Increasingly, it is also being viewed as an economic and security risk. The ongoing tensions in the Middle East serve as a reminder that fossil dependency creates vulnerabilities that extend far beyond carbon emissions.
That is why the conversation is evolving. Climate benefits remain important, but they are no longer the only argument. Energy security, industrial competitiveness, resilient supply chains, and strategic autonomy are becoming equally powerful drivers of the transition.
Rupert Posner of Univar makes an important observation: no company can transform an entire value chain on its own. Real progress requires collaboration across suppliers, customers, technology providers, and policymakers.
That is an important reminder. The transition will not be driven by a single hero company, but neither will it happen by itself. It depends on organizations throughout the value chain being willing to take responsibility, test new approaches, and move the market forward together.
At Sekab, we believe this is an important realization. The companies that reduce their dependence on fossil resources are not only lowering emissions. They are also strengthening their resilience in an increasingly uncertain world.
The direction is clear. The question is how quickly we choose to move.
Eva-Marie Byberg
EVP, Chief Sustainability & Strategy Officer
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