Low-emission materials as a buffer for supply chain risks

The packaging industry depends on speed and reliability. However, this strength can become a risk when supply chains come under pressure from geopolitical tensions, volatile raw material markets and growing regulatory requirements. Sustainability is therefore increasingly becoming a management issue: companies that decarbonise their material and energy decisions and broaden their raw material base not only reduce emissions but also lower dependencies and make their value chains more resilient.

Many companies still view sustainability and supply chain risks as two separate fields of action, with CO₂ targets on the one hand and security of supply and costs on the other. In practice, however, the two are closely interconnected. Today's material decisions determine future emission levels as well as the extent to which a company remains dependent on specific raw materials, markets or regions.

Particularly in times of geopolitical uncertainty, volatile prices and limited resources, such dependencies can become a significant risk. Predictability decreases, companies must react more quickly and the management of supply chains becomes increasingly complex.

Dependence on fossil-based raw materials

This connection is especially evident in supply chains that rely heavily on fossil-based raw materials. Fossil resources are not only a major driver of emissions; their prices and availability can also be influenced by developments in energy markets, geopolitical events or regulatory interventions.

Recent crises have shown that raw material prices can develop very differently. When crude oil and natural gas become scarce or expensive, bio-based raw materials provide additional options. Some of these can be sourced from residual and recycled feedstocks and are therefore less directly dependent on fluctuations in fossil-based markets.

Companies that gradually diversify their material base and use alternative raw material sources alongside fossil-based ones gain additional flexibility and strategic options. Sustainable material strategies are therefore not a separate topic but an important component of proactive supply chain risk management.

In this context, two approaches should be distinguished. The first consists of low-emission solutions that reduce a product's carbon footprint. This takes into account emissions across the entire cradle-to-gate stage, from raw material extraction to the factory gate. One example is Henkel's Technomelt Supra Low Emission (LE) range. The reduced carbon footprint of the adhesive helps customers lower the emissions of their own products and value chains.

The second approach focuses on a different area. Bio-based solutions replace fossil raw materials wholly or partially with renewable alternatives. In doing so, they can reduce dependence on fossil resources while expanding the available raw material base. One example is the Technomelt Supra Eco range, which incorporates renewable raw materials while maintaining proven performance in packaging applications.

Henkel continuously develops its adhesive technologies and product solutions to provide customers with lower-emission and bio-based options. According to the company, these solutions can be tailored to individual requirements, regardless of whether customers wish to keep their existing equipment, processes and logistics structures or optimise them at the same time.

CO₂ as a decision-making criterion

Another development is accelerating this shift: CO₂ data is increasingly becoming part of day-to-day decision-making processes. This applies not only to sustainability reporting but also to innovation, material selection and procurement. Customers are increasingly requesting reliable emissions data. At the same time, Scope 3 emissions, meaning indirect emissions generated along the value chain, are receiving greater attention. As a result, the carbon footprint of a material is becoming an additional decision criterion alongside price, quality, performance and availability.

"Often, a specific customer request, new regulations, or uncertainty surrounding raw materials provides the trigger. At that point, CO₂ shifts from being a reporting topic to becoming a strategic decision criterion. Companies are not only reducing emissions, they are also creating new opportunities for more resilient supply chains," says Olga Golgor, Global Head of Sustainability Consumer Goods at Henkel Adhesive Technologies.

Sustainability in day-to-day production

The packaging industry shows particularly clearly that sustainable solutions will only achieve broad adoption if they can be implemented in practice. Many initiatives fail not because of a lack of ambition but because of the challenges encountered in everyday production. These include extensive process modifications, additional qualification requirements, potential performance trade-offs and uncertainties regarding the availability of new materials.

This is where a key lever for widespread market adoption lies. With the Technomelt Supra Low Emission and Technomelt Supra Eco ranges, customers can reduce the carbon footprint of their products or increase the use of renewable raw materials without having to fundamentally redesign their production processes.

Choosing the right materials is a strategic decision for the packaging industry. Emissions, costs, availability and technical performance must be considered together. Sustainability thus becomes an integral part of supply chain strategy, helping to reduce emissions and dependencies while maintaining a strong focus on economic viability, quality and security of supply.