Providing products to help customers reduce their emissions

Over the next few decades, population and income growth, and an unprecedented expansion of the global middle class, are expected to create new demand for energy and hydrocarbon-based products, even under 2°C scenarios. ExxonMobil is responding to this growth in product demand by delivering solutions that enable customers to reduce their emissions and improve energy efficiency.

Natural gas

Natural gas is a versatile, abundant and lower-emission fuel. The use of natural gas in power generation plays an important role in reducing global emissions. When considering life cycle emissions, natural gas emits up to 60 percent lower greenhouse gases and produces significantly fewer air pollutants than coal for power generation. Many national and state governments have recognized the contributions natural gas can make to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and have included transitioning to natural gas in their carbon-reduction programs.^1,2 In fact, the power sector's switch from coal to natural gas is one of the main reasons why U.S. emissions have declined more than any other country since 2000.³

Natural gas also provides a reliable source of power to supplement renewable energy when wind or solar power is not available. LNG enables transportation of natural gas from supply centers to customers safely and cost-effectively. ExxonMobil is one of the largest natural gas producers in the world and a leader in LNG.

Lightweight materials and packaging

Demand for auto parts, housing materials, electronics and other products made from petrochemicals continues to grow. ExxonMobil produces weight-reducing materials for automobiles, resulting in an estimated 7 percent fuel economy improvement for every 10 percent reduction in vehicle weight. ExxonMobil's butyl rubber helps tires retain air pressure and thus can improve fuel efficiency by up to 2 percent and can increase electric vehicle range by up to 7 percent. Santoprene TPV, a high-performance elastomer, enables up to 45 percent weight reduction versus thermoset rubber. ExxonMobil also provides lightweight packaging materials for consumer goods reducing transport-related energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Advanced packaging also helps extend the shelf life of fresh food by days or even weeks, improving safety and reducing food waste and emissions from agricultural processes. Many recent technology breakthroughs, such as battery-powered electric vehicles, would not be possible without lightweight materials, including those developed by ExxonMobil. 

Advanced fuels & lubricants

ExxonMobil’s high-performance synthetic lubricants and premium fuels deliver improved vehicle efficiency and improved gas mileage, which can help customers reduce their emissions. The Company's synthetic lubricants require less frequent replacement than conventional motor oils. Mobil 1™ Advanced Fuel Economy synthetic motor oil can improve fuel economy compared to other motor oils. SpectraSyn HiVis and LoVis PAO underpin the Company's synthetic lubricant oils that can deliver up to 2 percent better fuel economy and longer lubricant change intervals. Premium fuels such as Synergy™ gasoline and diesel also help consumers improve gas mileage. By improving engine efficiency and fuel economy, these products can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional lubricants and fuels. ExxonMobil is progressing several multibillion-dollar refinery expansion projects to supply the growing demand for these advanced products.

¹ IEA, The Role of Gas in Today's Energy Transitions, July 2019.   
https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-gas-in-todays-energy-transitions

² New York Times, How Does Your State Make Electricity?, October 2020.   
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/28/climate/how-electricity-generation-changed-in-your-state-election.html

³ IEA, Global CO₂ emissions in 2019, February 2020.