Value chains are intricate ecosystems—and few are more complex than those in the chemical industry. Among hard-to-abate sectors, chemical products have the most diverse applications and global footprints, embedded in everything from agriculture to aerospace. Decarbonising this sector demands more than technical innovation; it requires a multidisciplinary transformation.

Rethinking such a vast and interconnected value chain calls for deep collaboration—bringing together engineers, economists, chemists, policymakers, and business strategists to reimagine processes, technologies, and incentives.

Led by the Leonardo Centre, this initiative began with a convergence of scientific expertise from across Imperial College London to map the full spectrum of emissions challenges and design a market model to accelerate abatement investment. It is now expanding to engage key value chain actors, gathering real-world insights and co-developing a roadmap for scalable, systemic change.