The “next generation” of ambitious multistakeholder collaborations between suppliers and customers, between industry and cross-industry peers, and between the wider industrial ecosystem of stakeholders can overcome decarbonization choke points and accelerate the industrial transformation towards net zero. However, action is needed now to keep the net-zero by 2050 goal within reach.

A new generation of multistakeholder collaborations focused on decarbonization and net zero objectives has gained momentum since 2015. These “next generation” collaborations differ from past partnerships due to a step-change in ambition level, greater focus on emission reductions, new types of partners and new areas of emphasis. The sense of urgency combined with the steepness of the net zero pathways have led leaders from both the public and private sectors to view collaborations as a key transition catalyst. Leaders now favour collaboration and transparency over competition, and increasingly consider decarbonization as a win-win solution that does not necessarily entail extra costs.

Three archetypes of collaboration have emerged: collaboration between customers and suppliers, collaboration between industry and cross-industry peers, and collaboration between the wider ecosystem of stakeholders (Figure 13). The following section outlines the rationale, benefits and collaboration models under each archetype, and offers more than 35 examples. Such initiatives are critical to pave the way for similar partnerships in other geographies and industries, and to inspire leaders worldwide to move quickly from pilots to a pipeline of commercial-scale projects by 2030.

Figure 13: Three archetypes of collaboration to accelerate the net-zero transformation of industries

GUEST PERSPECTIVE | Cross-sectoral collaboration is essential for industrial decarbonization by Jan Jenisch, Chief Executive Officer, Holcim