SCGC: Decarbonising the Value Chain: Achieving a 17% Lower Carbon Footprint with Low-Carbon PVC
19 March 2026
Sustainability has become an increasingly important consideration in the wire and cable industry, as manufacturers respond to growing expectations around carbon reduction and environmental transparency. The CO₂ emissions associated with […]
Sustainability has become an increasingly important consideration in the wire and cable industry, as manufacturers respond to growing expectations around carbon reduction and environmental transparency. The CO₂ emissions associated with a cable are not generated solely during manufacturing, but are embedded throughout its value chain, beginning with raw materials. As a result, reducing the carbon footprint of cables requires a broader perspective – one that looks beyond operational efficiency and focuses on the materials that form the core of the product itself.
To better understand and manage these emissions, Carbon Footprint (CFP) assessment is now widely used to quantify the climate impact of cables. CFP analysis reveals that emissions are distributed across several components, including raw materials, production and transportation. While copper typically represents the largest share of emissions, it offers limited flexibility for short-term reduction. In contrast, PVC insulation – and more specifically the PVC base resin used within it – emerges as a critical leverage point, as its carbon intensity directly influences the overall footprint of the finished cable.
Recognising this opportunity, SCGC has focused on reducing CO₂ emissions at the PVC base resin level. Compared with conventional PVC resins available in the market, SCGC’s low-carbon S-PVC resin achieves a 17% lower carbon footprint, based on CFP benchmarking. This material-level improvement allows cable manufacturers to reduce the total carbon footprint of their products without changing cable design, processing conditions or performance characteristics. For customers, this translates into measurable Scope 3 emission reduction supported by product-specific data rather than generic database values.
Building on this approach, SCG’s low-carbon PVC resin has been adopted by customer Bangkok Cable (BCC) for low-voltage cable applications. The material is used in a range of products including building wires, power cables and control cables, serving both construction and building projects as well as industrial applications. These implementations demonstrate how low-carbon PVC resin can be integrated into standard product lines, enabling manufacturers to reduce product carbon footprint while maintaining established performance and processing requirements.
