Industrial gas company Messer reduced its operational emissions in 2025, but higher energy demand and continued reliance on fossil-based power point to the limits of incremental decarbonisation in the sector.
The privately held gas company cut its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2% year-on-year, yet still reported 5.37 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent and total energy consumption of more than 13 TWh.
The reduction comes despite total energy consumption rising to 13.06 TWh, with fossil sources still accounting for 55% of the company’s energy mix. Renewables made up 36%, highlighting gradual progress in shifting the energy base.
The figures, reported in the company’s Sustainability Report 2025, reflect the energy-intensive nature of industrial gas production, particularly air separation processes that rely heavily on electricity.
Scope 2 emissions, linked to purchased power, accounted for the vast majority of Messer’s operational footprint, while direct emissions represented just 3.5% of total emissions.
“Messer’s approach to sustainability is rooted in operational discipline and continuous improvement,” said Bernd Eulitz, CEO of Messer. “By steadily enhancing how we run our facilities and manage resources, we strengthen our competitiveness while meeting our responsibility to employees, customers, and society.”
Messer has focused its decarbonisation efforts on improving energy efficiency, expanding renewable electricity procurement, and investing in on-site generation such as solar installations.
Last year Messer and PVChem partnered to build an energy-efficient ASU in Vietnam which will draw on cold energy from PV Gas’ Thi Vi LNG terminal ©PV Gas
The company is also deploying technologies including waste heat recovery and advanced compressor systems to reduce energy intensity.
The company previously achieved its target of reducing emissions intensity by 40% compared with 2019 six years ahead of schedule, in 2024. It has since adopted a more incremental approach, targeting a further 2.5% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2026.
However, the company acknowledged that the pace and extent of future emissions reductions will depend heavily on external factors, including the availability and cost of renewable electricity and evolving policy frameworks.
Beyond its own operations, Messer reported Scope 3 emissions of 5.36 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, broadly matching its direct and energy-related footprint and reflecting the growing importance of value chain emissions in industrial gas supply.
“This report highlights our progress on GHG emissions reduction, Messer’s safety and people-oriented culture, and responsible business practices across our operations and value chain,” said Patricia Hargil, Chief Sustainability Officer of Messer.
Messer is also positioning its portfolio of gases and technologies, including hydrogen, oxy-fuel combustion, and carbon capture services under its offering – a carbon capture as a service model that promises to cover the full value chain from a single source.
In May last year, the company secured $2.63bn in to support its growth strategy.
