Researchers have unveiled a new tool, the Carbon Atom Tracker (CarAT), designed to monitor carbon flows across entire chemical value chains. The automated system distinguishes between biogenic carbon (from renewable sources) and fossil carbon, allowing companies to measure and report emissions more accurately.
The chemical industry has long struggled with the complexity of tracing carbon through multi-step production processes. From raw material extraction to intermediates and final products, traditional accounting methods often miss hidden emissions or double-count carbon. CarAT solves this by mapping carbon at the molecular level, offering companies precise insights into where emissions occur and how renewable content is incorporated.
This breakthrough is timely, as stricter sustainability reporting regulations are emerging worldwide. Companies in Europe, North America, and Asia are under pressure to provide transparent carbon disclosures that align with ESG frameworks and international climate goals. With CarAT, manufacturers can identify hotspots in their production chains, prioritize decarbonization investments, and substantiate claims about renewable content in products.
Industry experts believe CarAT could become a standard tool for life-cycle assessments, complementing digital twins and other industrial monitoring technologies. Beyond compliance, it also opens doors for competitive advantage: firms adopting CarAT early can market low-carbon products with verifiable data, winning customer trust.
While still in its early adoption stage, the methodology represents a step forward in bridging science, technology, and industry needs. Its success will depend on scaling up and ensuring accessibility for both large corporations and smaller chemical producers worldwide.