Cepsa Launches NextLab Low Carbon Globally

Cepsa Química, the Madrid-headquartered global oil and gas company, yesterday introduced a line of sustainable detergents branded "NextLab Low Carbon" for European and Asian markets. The new product is made using renewable energy sources and will be part of a product range presented in response to the fast-growing demand for environmentally friendly cleaning products. This has managed to lower greenhouse gas emissions and is thus a landmark shift in the carbon-intensive chemical industry towards a greener course. NextLab Low Carbon is a direct continuation of Cepsa's efforts initiated in North America when the company launched the product in 2023. After successfully launching it in Canada and covering the American markets, Cepsa wants to reach the other continents, namely Asia and Europe. The new product will be manufactured using Cepsa's best plant in southern Spain, which is known to be amongst the finest chemical production plants on earth. Minimization of Environmental Impact Cepsa undertook massive studies in a comparative mode between NextLab Low Carbon and conventional Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB), a raw material used for manufacturing biodegradable detergents. LAB is perhaps the most significant crude material used in household and industrial cleaning. It comes in all forms: powders, bars, capsules, and liquids. Among the giant producers of LAB in the global market, Cepsa stands out, and this product development is in strict conformity with the operation strategy in terms of environmental damage reduction. The study found that NextLab Low Carbon releases 19% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to the fossil-based LAB. By prioritizing renewable energy rather than fossil energy, Cepsa is significantly improving its carbon footprint through its products. Such a reduction in emissions will benefit the chemical industry since it has always been associated with difficult sustainable practices due to the energy-intensive character of production. This new production process for NextLab Low Carbon falls within the same category of innovation in the chemical sector. The company has installed a recording system for the emissions of GHG during every step of the production process. An AENOR Spanish certification body whose position underwrites that Cepsa is making proper claims about the environmental performance of this system. The certification of this system will likely increase transparency and, for example, could be used on other products in the new lines of Cepsa. Expansion to Asia and Europe Cepsa will also focus on Asia and Europe, two principal markets where demand is increasingly growing in sustainable consumption products. They will produce the new detergents primarily in their facilities in southern Spain, reducing emissions associated with transport and logistics to and from there, further supporting their sustainability goals. This is a strategic move, as corporations and consumers are more becoming environmentally conscious about their consumption. Many companies, especially in Europe and Asia, look forward to minimizing their carbon footprint by making sure that the products they procure from suppliers do not hurt the environment. Business comes with this opportunity: NextLab Low Carbon offers the company another opportunity to have more sustainable ingredients for its cleaning products. Climate-Neutral Aims Cepsa plans to increase NextLab Low Carbon production as part of its plan to be a fully climate-neutral company by 2050. The process includes reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions, investment in renewable energy, and the production of lower-carbon products as alternatives to chemical products customers currently use. The regulator and consumer fronts along with environmental action groups are mounting pressure on the chemical industry to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Relaunching low-carbon alternative LAB by Cepsa affirms its position as an industry driver toward more sustainable methods of production in the chemical industry. Product Integrity/Product Safety Cepsa has developed a whole system of tracking emissions generated in the production cycle of NextLab Low Carbon in order to ensure the integrity of its environmental claims. This allows accurate emissions data down the production cycle and enables verifiable claims concerning reduced environmental impact. The certification authority for Spain, AENOR, has rigorously verified and audited this system. Obtaining the certification will help Cepsa demonstrate to its customers and other stakeholders that the sustainability element of its business and its products is based on verifiable information. This will, in turn, mean that the same certification can be extended to other product lines in the future and thereby expand the spectrum of sustainable offerings from the company across the board. Role of LAB in Detergents The core ingredients of biodegradable detergents include Linear Alkylbenzene, or LAB. Due to its efficacy and compatibility with other cleaning agents, LAB is used in household and industrial cleaning products. The launch of the low-carbon alternative to LAB constitutes an important milestone for the detergent industry since it would allow manufacturers to create more sustainable cleaning products without letting their quality and performance levels down. The international leadership by Cepsa of LAB production gives a competitive edge to the company across all levels in the global market. By offering a low-carbon alternative, Cepsa has provided customers with an option which is far more sustainable than what they could come up with for the environment through their goals. Future Outlook Of course, innovations like NextLab Low Carbon will shape the future in this sector as the chemical industry responds to climate change and sustainability pressures. For instance, Cepsa is taking a very important step by cutting down GHG emissions and using renewable energy in its production processes. Its significant expansion of NextLab Low Carbon into the Asian and European markets underlines Cepsa's commitment to scaling its offerings in sustainable products and meeting the surging demand of environmentally responsible products. When the company continues innovating, it will be well positioned in helping its customers meet their sustainability goals. Source: Cepsa