From sustainable footpaths to fashionable dress to sophisticated e-fuel. At their annual meeting, CO2 Value, a partner organisation of BNP Paribas Fortis, illustrated very concretely how carbon capture and utilisation can help defossilise the economy.

It’s simple, in fact. Forests and oceans can absorb CO₂ that is released. But fossil fuel combustion, industry and land use create so much CO₂ that nature can no longer handle that absorption. The result is global warming. So we need to reduce CO₂ emissions and use more renewable energy. That solution is unfortunately less straightforward in practice, although there are already many promising technologies to accelerate decarbonisation. And that is exactly what CO₂ Value Europe is working towards.

Circular carbon economy

CO₂ Value Europe, a partner organisation of BNP Paribas Fortis, is an inter-professional organisation representing the Carbon Capture & Utilisation (CCU) community in Europe. It strives for a circular carbon economy. It seeks alternative ways and technologies to capture CO₂ and then recycle it into usable sustainable raw materials for fuels, chemicals and building materials, among others.

Crash course in CCU

The audience at this year's sixth edition of CO₂ Value's annual meeting was just a little more diverse than usual. Besides members, interested companies and clients of BNP Paribas Fortis were also able to attend the meeting. And they did so in large numbers. Carbon capture and utilisation is a hot topic. A lot of companies are facing a sustainable transition and want to decarbonise. Attendees were given a crash course in 'What is CCU?', but it was mainly the concrete applications that really appealed.

Sustainable footpath

VITO, a Flemish independent research organisation in the field of cleantech and sustainable development, gave an example of how CO₂ mineralisation can make the construction sector more sustainable. This technology not only leads to lower CO₂ emissions, but permanently stores carbon dioxide in valuable products such as bricks and many other building materials. In Ghent, for example, there is already a footpath made of sustainable bricks.

Dress to impress

CCU can also make a difference in the fashion sector, LanzaTech proves. They convert carbon waste into sustainable fuels, fabrics, packaging and other products that people use in their daily lives. One of these is a synthetic fibre to make clothes that are sustainable without sacrificing anything in terms of comfort or style.

E-methane

Fossil fuels remain a major source of CO₂. With the Colombus project, Engie, Carmeuse and John Cockerill are joining forces. They are developing an alternative fuel that will help decarbonise industry and the transport sector. CO₂ released during lime production is captured by Carmeuse and then combined with green hydrogen from Engie. Based on this, John Cockerill produces carbon-neutral synthetic methane or e-methane via electrolysis as an alternative to fossil fuels. This is a great example of a circular carbon economy.

Sustainable partnership

As a partner from the very beginning, BNP Paribas Fortis is 100% behind CO₂ Value's mission. Sustainability is in the bank's DNA, so we certainly encourage a new circular and industrial value chain. As a banker, we take our responsibility seriously and are happy to help develop innovative solutions that make our economy more resilient and sustainable.

Want to know more? Visit the CO₂ Value Europe website.

It sounds somewhat futuristic, but today building with CO² is possible. Thanks to accelerates carbonation, CO² is used to produce building material. A sustainable footpath in Ghent illustrates how promising this new technology is.

In mid-December, CO₂ Value Europe, a think- and do- tank representing the carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) community in Europe, held a webinar about the use of CO₂ to create building material. Concrete examples of this sustainable technology were given to illustrate the potential they can offers, especially in the hard-to-abate construction sector. BNP Paribas Fortis and CO₂ Value Europe are partners in issues related to financing innovative and sustainable technologies. As an institution, we work hard to promote corporate sustainability.

The second-most polluting industrial sector

As well as being one of the largest in the world, the cement industry's high levels of flue gas emissions also make it one of the most polluting. Cement is a crucial component in concrete, which is vital for the building sector. A sustainable alternative to cement could make a huge difference. One option here is carbonation, also known as CO₂ mineralization. While this CCU technology is not yet well known, it has the potential to play a crucial role in mitigating climate change.

Giving nature a helping hand

Carbonation is a natural process, where minerals react with CO₂ to create e.g. limestone and dolomite. In nature, this process takes thousands of years, but today, thanks to innovative methods, this time can be cut down to some minutes. This process requires relatively small amounts of energy and can be used to create several different products, including bricks where CO₂ is sequestered permanently.

CO₂ all the way

The development of CCU technology has accelerated sharply in recent years. We now have cement alternatives that meet the building sector’s technical requirements. There are various ways to store CO₂ into construction materials. For example, CO₂ can be injected as an alternative to water for hardening cement. What’s more, CO₂ can be used to convert mineral waste from steel and mining industries into new products such as aggregates, which can be used as a basis for paving or building blocks.

Good for the planet

Mineralization of CO₂ has a significant impact on the environment, because it has an effect at different levels. The annual global reduction in CO₂ emissions is estimated to be 250 - 500 million tonnes by 2030 (source CO₂ Value Europe).

• CO₂ can be captured from flue gas emitted by industrial processes used to create steel, cement, and chemicals, with no need for concentration or treatment.
• CO₂ can be captured directly from the atmosphere to create negative carbon emissions, i.e. carbon removal.
• In both cases, the CO₂ will be stored permanently in building materials.
• Mineral waste and even construction waste are used together with CO₂ to make new building materials, so it reduces landfills and the associated costs.
• Recycling carbon and construction wastes means fewer new natural resources are exploited.

What’s the catch?

New developments are never without their challenges, and this is no exception. Offering a competitive, quality alternative to concrete in a circular economy requires investment and adaptation.

• Factories will have to adapt their plants. Locating them close to significant sources of CO₂, like a steel factory, is recommended so the CO₂ and the waste fractions do not have to be transported.

• Manufacturing new products takes energy and creates CO₂ emissions, even if the products are made using carbon dioxide and waste. It is why renewable energy should be used as much as possible to increase the sustainability of the processes.
• The commercialization of accelerated carbonation technologies is quite recent, and some processes are not optimally equipped for this yet.
• The lack of appropriate regulatory frameworks is also a drawdown to allow for a fast deployment of CCU technologies. This is an area CO₂ Value Europe is especially working on.

Despite these challenges, Andre Bardow (Professor of Energy & Process Systems Engineering, ETH Zurich) told us during the webinar that he is convinced CO₂ mineralization reduces the CO₂ footprint from a life cycle perspective, even more than carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Zero domestic waste

There are already companies producing low-CO₂ construction materials around the world. One of them is in Limburg. Orbix, in Genk, has successfully extracted minerals from steel production waste (known as slag) which are used as a basis for eco-friendly concrete stone. Not only is liquid CO₂ used to produce concrete stone rather than polluting cement, but residual waste that would otherwise be dumped in landfill is also recycled. 

There is a great example of this in Ghent, where Orbix worked with the Flemish research institute VITO to create the Stapsteen project for the city. Visitors can walk on Belgium’s first-ever circular economy footpath in the Leewstraat: 100m² made entirely from sustainable bricks, saving a full 2 tonnes of CO₂.

Do you have sustainability plans for 2021? Our experts at the Sustainable Business Competence Centre can provide advice about innovations like CO₂ mineralisation and support your sustainable transition.

What if the future of sustainable business is at the bottom of the ocean for once? Marine biodiversity contains resources that can meet the environmental challenges of many sectors. Perhaps yours, too. Find out more during an online event about the promising blue economy on 11 March 2021.

Blue is the new green

71% of our planet consists of water. Seas and oceans play a crucial role in our climate, and coastal areas can capture up to five times more CO₂ than tropical forests. The blue economy wants to benefit from all these advantages to improve both the environment and our well-being,

With local being the keyword. And that's where the difference lies with the green economy, which also focuses on the environment and health, but not always in such a sustainable and smart way. Eating organically grown quinoa from Ecuador, for example, is healthy and eco-friendly, but transporting it here is expensive and creates high amounts of pollution.

Offshore sustainability

What does the underwater world have to offer that can be reused, recycled or converted into new sustainable products? A lot, it turns out, as the unique properties of organisms such as algae, starfish, jellyfish or sea cucumbers can be transformed into sustainable products with high added value. This is a process that requires creativity and innovation, and is already with us today.

For your sector, too

The blue economy is expanding rapidly and could bring about a revolution in a wide range of sectors such as healthcare, food, the plastics industry, cosmetics, energy and even aerospace. It is fully capable of helping companies transform their traditional activities into a sustainable model. And in Belgium's ports, the country already has a huge advantage and excellent access to coastal and offshore areas.

Another scoop of microalgae?

Microalgae, for example, offer a lot of promise, as they can renew themselves and thrive both in the desert and in the ocean. They contain many healthy components, such as proteins, that can be used to develop food products.

Sustainable plastics

When discussing the oceans, the plastic problem is never far away. Human beings are producing more and more plastic as the world's population grows, yet the problem with the existing plastic is that it's nigh on impossible to recycle as its components are hard to separate. By making a completely different type of plastic from biomass, its recycling is already considered at the design stage. A large amount of biomass remains unused in the oceans, and using smart, natural polymers could revolutionise plastic production, for example. These polymers are capable of self-renewal and can adapt to their environment.

Who will pay for it?

Great ideas, you think, but who will pay for them? The financial sector certainly wants to play a role in this revolution and is prepared to take risks and invest in new technologies, production systems and R&D.

This commitment was formalised in various ways during the climate week in New York at the end of September 2020. BNP Paribas signed the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and joined the UNEP FI's Collective Commitment to Climate Action, a partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme and the financial sector. In terms of the maritime sector, the Bank committed to working with customers to preserve and sustain the oceans. Read more about this commitment here (only available in French).

Would you like to find out whether the blue economy could make a difference to your sector?
Sign up here for a free online event on this subject on 11 March 2021 (in English only), organised by BNP Paribas Fortis Transport, Logistics and Ports Chair.

The bank is partnering with CO² Value Europe, an organisation that aims to deploy technologies for capturing and using CO² as a raw material.

What if it was possible to capture CO₂ for recycling and use it as a raw material, rather than relying on fossil carbon? At CO₂ Value Europe, this is not a futuristic vision, but a very concrete ambition, based on the concept of Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU). These technologies are being rolled out to more and more industrial players and have the potential to make a real difference in the fight against climate change.

The birth of a solution

“For many industrial sectors, completely eliminating carbon is very difficult, if not impossible”, says Célia Sapart, Director of Communications and Climate Science at CO₂ Value Europe. "It’s not just about reducing our CO₂ emissions to meet climate targets. It's also about developing a circular carbon economy, capturing CO₂ from industrial fumes or directly from the atmosphere and transforming it into different types of products needed, such as building materials, basic chemicals and renewable fuels. It is therefore a question of reducing our emissions while at the same time 'de-fossilising' our economy.”

One billion tonnes of CO₂ every year

A crazy project? On the contrary! “Many initiatives are developing and things are speeding up, but today there is a lack of a legislative and regulatory framework to move up a gear", says Sapart. "Contributing to defining this framework is also one of the key reasons for creating CO₂ Value Europe, as our aim is to enable CCU technologies that have a scientifically proven positive impact on our environment to be developed on a large scale. To this end, we lobby the European authorities to ensure that the concept of the CCU is properly considered and taken into account, for example in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). We are convinced that these technologies, developed in a clearly defined and regulated context, will make a difference and can lead to a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions every year, as several studies from the latest IPCC assessment report reveal.”

An exchange of expertise

“We see this new partnership with BNP Paribas Fortis as a true sharing of knowledge”, says Anastasios Perimenis, Secretary General at CO₂ Value Europe. "In order to accelerate the transition and make the first big projects happen and inspire others, we need financial support. BNP Paribas Fortis can help us understand which criteria are important to help finance the most promising CCU projects and put us in touch with key players. For our part, we bring our multidisciplinary knowledge and expertise on the CCU to increase investments in technologies that contribute to the transition to a circular, more sustainable and de-fossilised industry.”

Our support as a bank

“We are very excited to work with CO₂ Value Europe”, says Didier Beauvois, Head of Corporate Banking and Member of the Executive Board of BNP Paribas Fortis. "To empower its impact on the climate, but also to encourage the creation of a new circular and industrial value chain. At BNP Paribas Fortis, we share CO₂ Value Europe's ambition and want to play our role as a banker to the full, contributing to the development of innovative solutions that will make our economy more resilient and sustainable.”

Putting our expertise and relationships at the service of those seeking solutions for a better and more environmentally friendly industry: another example of Positive Banking.

Find out more

Visit the CO₂ Value Europe website.

A strong ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) performance is becoming a competitive factor. And SMEs are increasingly aware of this. A good thing, according to Didier Beauvois, Head of Corporate Banking.

How do you explain this acceleration in awareness among SMEs?

Under the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), listed companies and companies with more than 250 employees have been subject to ESG performance reporting obligations since 2022. This means that they have made commitments to their customers, investors, banks, employees and shareholders. To meet their ESG requirements, they are increasingly giving preference to suppliers (often smaller ones) that adopt and can demonstrate virtuous practices. In addition, SMEs will also be subject to the CSRD from 2026.

So, has the transition become a must for all companies?

If you want to continue working with customers of a certain size, for example in the retail sector, you no longer have a choice. Good ESG performance is becoming a competitive factor. In fact, we encourage all SMEs to communicate their efforts. A credible policy is a guarantee of viability, because a virtuous company will be in a much better position to attract investors or obtain good financing terms.

How is the bank helping SMEs make the transition?

Based on our experience of working with larger companies, we're ready to help them every step of the way. We have the expertise, the partners and the solutions, which we are gradually making available to smaller companies. 

Our relationship managers have access to a wide network of in-house experts. For example, they can call on our Sustainable Business Competence Centre or the Low-Carbon Transition Group, a BNP Paribas network of 200 experts around the world who can help customers make the transition to a low-carbon future. 

How do you support them in practice?

Our relationship managers, in collaboration with our experts and external partners, offer our customers a way forward. Let's take the example of a small supplier to a large retailer. Once they've understood the risks and opportunities associated with ESG, we help them make a diagnosis – what can they do about it? – and advise them on the actions they need to take. For example, making their vehicle fleet less polluting, improving the energy efficiency of their buildings, producing some of their own energy, making their production processes more circular, adapting their corporate governance, achieving a better gender balance in their management team, and so on.

We then look at the financing required to implement these actions and propose the solutions best suited to the company’s situation, size and sector. We've developed a wide range of transition-related products that we offer either directly or through partners.

Can you give some examples?

We offer specific loans that can be used to purchase insulation, solar panels, high efficiency boilers or electric vehicles. Large SMEs can also access a credit line (of at least EUR 10 million), with the interest rate linked to the achievement of ESG targets, which are verified by independent experts. For example, we have financed a lime producer by linking the interest rate of its loan to the reduction of its CO2 emissions, and a car park operator by linking the interest rate to the level of particulate emissions. We're also developing factoring solutions linked to ESG commitments, where we finance the payment of invoices for SMEs of all sizes.