Emory Climate Talks - Dr. Jason Keiper, Stepan Company
Jason Keiper is Chief Technology & Sustainability Officer at Stepan Company, based in Northfield, IL (USA). He is responsible forΒ ...
Vice President and Chief Technology & Sustainability Officer, Stepan
Search every verified Jason Keiper interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote β each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Jason Keiper, Vice President and Chief Technology & Sustainability Officer at Stepan Company, discussed the company's sustainability efforts during a September 2021 Emory Climate Talks event. He stated that specialty chemicals companies like Stepan have "unique opportunities and challenges to influence sustainability both upstream and downstream" due to their position in the chemical value chain. Keiper described the development of concentrated fabric softener products that reduce water content by over five times, which he said could lead to reductions in plastic packaging, fuel use for shipping, and water consumption. He also noted a partnership with Henkel to produce a bio-based, vegan-certified fabric softener, and mentioned Stepan's creation of a "biorenewable carbon index" to quantify bio-based carbon content in products. Keiper addressed broader industry challenges, stating that the chemical industry is a "significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions" and that addressing emissions requires a "holistic view beyond just stack emissions." He discussed Stepan's production of polyester polyols used in insulation products, which he said can enable up to 30% energy reduction)Skip. He also noted that scaling biosurfactants like rhamnolipids cost-effectively while maintaining performance remains a challenge, and that tracking greenhouse gas emissions across global operations is complex due to varying taxation regimes and data challenges.
“Specialty chemicals companies like Stepan sit in the middle of the chemical value chain, converting basic chemicals into products with higher functionality used in consumer and industrial applications. This position gives us unique opportunities and challenges to influence sustainability both upstream and downstream.”
“The chemical industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, with energy use in chemical processing being the largest source. Addressing emissions requires a holistic view beyond just stack emissions, including energy consumption and production-related emissions.”
“Our team is developing concentrated fabric softener products that reduce water content by over five times, which can lead to significant reductions in plastic packaging, fuel use for shipping, and water consumption, while maintaining high performance.”
“We designed a bio-based, vegan-certified ester quat fabric softener in partnership with Henkel, focusing on sustainable raw material sourcing, local supply chain optimization, and product performance to improve environmental outcomes.”
Jason Keiper is Chief Technology & Sustainability Officer at Stepan Company, based in Northfield, IL (USA). He is responsible forΒ ...
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