While the world population is growing, the availability of natural resources and raw materials such as oil, natural gas, mineral ores, and water is decreasing. It is also of importance to significantly reduce CO2 emissions to counteract further climate change. Energy efficiency is a key resource for economic and social development, bringing significant benefits to various stakeholders, from companies developing energy-efficient measures to all members of society. In addition to cost savings, numerous benefits can be achieved by supporting better alignment between energy issues and strategic business professionals: e.g., improved competitiveness, profitability, quality, etc. Energy efficiency can therefore be a strategic advantage. However, most companies, especially small and medium enterprises, face many problems and in some cases rejection when trying to effectively implement energy efficiency measures.

Considering the energy crisis and global warming, it has become imperative for industries to focus on higher energy efficiency. It is well known that energy consumption in the chemical industry is one of the highest of all industrial sectors. Energy efficiency is a top priority in the chemical industry, and many companies are turning to novel technology to help them achieve this goal. It can help chemical companies reduce energy consumption by optimizing their processes and improving their production methods.

Energy consumption and the energy-efficient production of goods in a supply chain have so far played only a very minor role. Important tasks in this area are the creation and verification of energy supply chain models and the analysis of their effects on production networks. At the same time, supply chain management and logistics or intralogistics must move closer together and include aspects of supply processes. Although the optimal structuring of information and material flows within a production network is central to supply chain management, integrated supply concepts for media, energy and other means of production do not exist. The biggest barriers are access to capital and lack of awareness (especially of lifecycle cost impacts). Looking at the supply chain is one of the most important ways to overcome these barriers and improve energy efficiency.

• How can energy consumption in supply chain management contribute to more energy efficient processes?
• How can we achieve “maximum profit from a minimum of resources” instead of “maximum profit from a minimum of capital”?
• Have you implemented or planned technological innovations and long-term investments that will lead to increased resource/energy efficiency?
• Do you have plans for a systemic assessment of resource efficiency, e.g., for optimizing production processes? Or are you already structuring your manufacturing processes by optimizing maintenance and servicing cycles?
• How do you deal with energy consumption and energy-efficient closed-loop production? How does the integration of resources in process chains and systems work?
• Energy Efficiency Regulations and Directive in EU & Germany: support or inhibition of energy efficiency in supply chains and chemical production?