Adriano Alfani – CEO of Versalis – has received the 2022 ICIS Emerging Leader Award, as voted on and recognised by his peers in the chemical industry as part of the ICIS Top 40 Power Players.

The prestigious ICIS Emerging Leader Award was presented to Mr Alfani by ICIS Insight Editor, Nigel Davis, who took the opportunity to discuss some of the main challenges facing the industry. The video interview can be accessed here 

Part of Italian multinational energy company eni, Versalis operates at a global level in the basic chemicals and intermediates, polymers and rubbers sectors, as well as in the chemistry from renewables and technologies for recycling plastics.

A commitment to carbon footprint reduction

Many chemical companies are running selective demonstration trials in focused areas of Carbon Footprint reduction. The commitments of Versalis https://www.versalis.eni.com/en-IT/home.html – not only to alliances at international level such as the Circular Plastics Alliance (CPA), but also to a wide range of transformative initiatives on their own sites at industrial and commercial scale and beyond threshold targets – led to their win.

Such efforts include:

• A complementary approach towards decarbonisation targets;

• Production of chemicals via fermentation: bioethanol, biogas and biomethane;

• The use of alternative feedstocks;

• The acquisition and development of new technologies for mechanical and chemical recycling;

• Seeking to broaden market participation through an integrated supply chain for special polymers.

“An excellent example of what the chemical industry is capable of”

“This award is a well-earned recognition of our team. It’s a credit to all at Versalis who have worked very hard over the last few years,” remarked Mr Alfani. “I joined the company as CEO at the beginning of 2021, during the pandemic; the company has since developed substantially as we’ve made significant investments in research, innovation and the development of new technologies,” he added. 

Dean Curtis, CEO of ICIS, called Versalis “an excellent example of what the chemical industry is capable of”, demonstrating how a sector founded on innovation “continues to evolve to meet the current global challenges” we are facing. “It is no surprise that Mr Alfani’s peers voted for him to receive this award,” he remarked. “Both Mr Alfani and the team at Versalis should be very proud of their evolution at such a key time.”

Building resilience for the future

“Versalis is a forward-thinking, innovation-led business, committed to investing in the manufacture of chemicals based on circularity and renewables,” added Mr Alfani in closing. “The team has worked hard over the past 10 years to develop new technologies, and we are delighted with the success we have achieved so far. 

“This is not a time for anyone in the chemical industry to stand still, and we will continue our work and investments to decarbonise, grow our business, and add the agility and flexibility we need to be resilient for the future.”