Chemours: Fluorine Chemistries Are Essential to a Sustainable Future

Gerardo Familiar, the President of Advanced Performance Materials at Chemours, was recently a guest on the Energy Evolution podcast by S&P Global Commodity Insights, highlighting the essential role of Chemours' chemistry in a sustainable future and advocating for a science-backed and data-driven regulatory approach to these materials.

During the episode, he explains how the unique qualities of fluoropolymers and low global warming potential (GWP) fluorinated gases provide the high performance needed for safety and durability in critical industries like automotive, medical, hydrogen production, and aerospace. As an example, Familiar points to water electrolyzers for hydrogen production, which use Chemours’ Nafion™ membranes, saying “If you want to have an electrolyzer producing hydrogen, you want that electrolyzer to last for a long period of time, and making sure that it is operating, it is safe, and it operates in the right way.”

These chemistries are also key to a greener future, enabling applications that help address big challenges like climate change. As Familiar explains, "Without these materials, achieving global commitments towards decarbonization and net-zero emission goals would be impossible."

Whether it's the production of clean energy or enabling sustainable solutions at data centers for digital transformation, many emerging technologies depend on fluoropolymers and low GWP fluorinated gases.

Familiar also discussed the importance of a data-driven and science-backed regulatory approach, cautioning against blanket regulations for compounds that have vastly different characteristics. Instead, he emphasizes that regulations should account for the essentiality of these materials to key sectors, along with their responsible production, use, and end-of-life management.

Sustainability and responsible manufacturing are core to our strategy at Chemours. As Familiar notes in the episode, our company continues to make significant capital and technological investments in responsible manufacturing to back our innovative chemistries with strict emissions control and abatement technologies and life-cycle management for our products.

As the world works toward a more sustainable and prosperous future, fluoropolymers and low GWP fluorinated gases will have a critical role to play. To learn more, listen to the full episode from S&P Global Commodity Insights here.