Chemical Industry in Poland
Chemical industry is one of the key branches of the processing industry. In Poland, it is one of the essential elements of the economic system and one of the most important components of GDP.

The sold production of the Polish chemical industry has a high share in the total industry.

WHAT IS CHEMICAL INDUSTRY?

Chemical industry is one of the key branches of the processing industry. In Poland, it is one of the crucial elements of the economic system.

The Polish chemical industry consists of four main areas:

Mass chemistry called big chemistry

high tonnage products used on a massive scale (excluding fuels)

Chemical processing

end products based on massive products production

Fuels and oil products

Low tonnage products

used in small amounts in high-profit materials

POLISH CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN NUMBERS

0 billion EUR

sold production of the Polish chemical industry (2022, Statistics Poland data)

0 %

share of the sold production of the chemical industry in the total sold production of the industry in Poland (2022, Statistics Poland data)

0 thousand jobs

average number of jobs in the Polish chemical industry (2022, Statistics Poland data)

0 thousand

number of companies in the Polish chemical sector (2022, Statistics Poland data)

2021-pipc-annual-report-online-strony-1-1 (1)

Find out more…

The annual PIPC report showing the strategic role and the most important data of Polish Chemistry in the country’s economy. The report is addressed primarily to representatives of the administration, parliamentarians, MEPs, economic and industry journalists, NGOs, analysts, as well as representatives of the chemical sector and related sectors.

FEATURES OF THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

CHALLENGES OF THE POLISH CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Ecological transformation

The ecological transformation of the industry involves the planning and implementation of changes that, in the long run, will contribute to the achievement of goals related to climate neutrality. The Polish chemical industry, as one of the most innovative branches, will play a fundamental role in the process of the aforementioned ecological transformation and has joined the main players in the design of all pro-environmental solutions. Chemical products, being key to the development of new tools, processes, devices, and indispensable for the existence of various industries, make the chemical sector a driver of change currently facing all of Europe, which is striving to achieve climate neutrality. The chemical sector is one of the most developed in terms of implementing pro-environmental solutions and technologies.

Decarbonization

Decarbonization is the systematic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere so as to finally completely stop the emissions. The decarbonization process is a response to the negative impact of CO2 on the environment; it includes a range of activities aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which are the main cause of climate warming.

European Green Deal

The European Green Deal (EGD) is a development strategy that aims to transform the European Union into a climate neutral area. This concept is a response to the climate crisis and strong environmental degradation processes. The Polish chemical industry implements the ideas of the EGD.

Fit for 55 package

The EU’s Fit for 55 package is a cornerstone of the European Green Deal concept. It is a package of the so-called EU legislative proposals (also known as initiatives), the implementation of which is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to 1990. This goal is to be achieved by 2030. Many of the initiatives of the package will significantly affect the functioning of the entire European, including Polish, chemical industry which will have to face new challenges. The Polish chemical industry is implementing and planning further investments in response to the ideas of sustainable development and EU decarbonization plans.

CE (Circular Economy)

Circular economy stands for, on the one hand, efficient management of resources, and on the other – an economic model in which resources “circulate” in a closed loop. Products and services are traded in closed loops or cycles. This model assumes that everything is a valuable resource. The main goal of circular economy is to design production processes in such a way that it is possible to maintain the highest value of products, parts and materials. The chemical industry plays an essential role in promoting the circular economy. The sector is at the heart of being both a manufacturer of products and a leader in their recycling processes.

SUP (Single Use Plastics)

The assumptions of the EU SUP Directive are derived from the assumptions of the circular economy (CE) and the related EU Strategy for plastics. SUP assumptions are to reduce the impact of some plastic products on the environment, and the new requirements are related to, among others, production, packaging, consumer information and recycling. The implementation of the SUP Directive is one of the challenges for the Polish chemical industry.

EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)

The EPR regulations are derived from the assumptions of the circular economy (CE). EPR is linked to the EU waste package, according to which EPR is responsible for the packaging waste that is left after the product is used. This is one of the ways to support the design and manufacturing of products that can be recycled and reused. It is a “tool” supporting the achievement of the goals of circular economy, increasing the use of secondary raw materials and allowing entrepreneurs to take responsibility for their waste. The Polish chemical industry is one of the key sectors that will be affected by the EPR.

Sustainable chemicals

The Polish chemical industry is facing a challenge – even greater sustainability of chemical products, although the industry has been trying to meet the society’s expectations as much as possible and minimize the negative impact of chemicals on the environment for a long time. The EU chemicals strategy for sustainable development involves many challenges for the Polish chemical industry.

RES (Renewable Energy Sources)

RES regulations are derived from the assumptions of the circular economy (CE). Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is linked to the EU waste package, according to which EPR is responsible for the packaging waste that is left after the product is used. This is one of the ways to support the design and manufacturing of products that can be recycled and reused. It is a “tool” supporting the achievement of the goals of circular economy, increasing the use of secondary raw materials and allowing entrepreneurs to take responsibility for their waste. The Polish chemical industry is one of the key sectors that will be affected by the EPR.

Hydrogen technologies

RES regulations are derived from the assumptions of the circular economy (CE). Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are linked to the EU waste package, according to which RES is responsible for the packaging waste that is left after the product is used. This is one of the ways to support the design and manufacturing of products that can be recycled and reused. It is a “tool” supporting the achievement of the goals of circular economy, increasing the use of secondary raw materials and allowing entrepreneurs to take responsibility for their waste. The Polish chemical industry is one of the key sectors that will be affected by the RES.

Innovations, Industry 4.0, modern technologies

The chemical industry, like other sectors of the economy, is shaped by global trends, and currently one of the most important is innovation. The Polish chemical industry, one of the most progressive and trend-setting sectors in the entire industry, focuses on modern technologies. It is also of great importance in the context of the aforementioned ecological transformation. The industry is already developing and will launch the latest solutions, in this way implementing the assumptions of the European Green Deal and the aforementioned Fit for 55 Package. Digital transformation, in the long term, will help maximize profits and increase safety, which is of primary importance for the Polish chemical industry.

ESG​

ESG (Environmental Social Governance) is an idea according to which enterprises should not only care for their own economic interest, but also take into account their impact on the natural environment, local communities or matters related to corporate governance. The Polish chemical industry is implementing ESG assumptions – even today, in spite of the fact that strict reporting rules are only just being developed – the above-mentioned factors are positioned to become the basic element of the functioning of enterprises and to be taken into account by financial institutions.