COP31 and Green Industrialisation: What Role Does Ozone Play in Industrial Decarbonisation?
Introduction
COP31 is opening in Brisbane under Australian presidency, and this time climate negotiations are moving beyond energy transition: the focus is green industrialisation. The industrial sector accounts for approximately one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with steel, cement, and chemicals responsible for nearly 70% of this share (UNFCCC, COP31 Green Industrialisation Concept Note, April 2026). This picture makes industrial decarbonisation the most critical axis of global climate targets.
In this context, ozone technology stands out as a solution that doesn't directly reduce carbon emissions but systematically improves the environmental footprint of industrial processes. So how can ozone technology be positioned within COP31's green industrialisation agenda?
What Is Green Industrialisation and Why Did COP31 Prioritise It?
Green industrialisation refers to a transformation process that reduces carbon footprint while maintaining production capacity, eases pressure on natural resources, and integrates circular economy principles into production. In preparatory meetings for COP31, this concept was addressed under three core headings: reducing chemical and water use, lowering wastewater load, and increasing industrial process efficiency.
Ozone technology sits at the exact intersection of these three headings.
Ozone's Contribution to Industrial Decarbonisation
Reducing chemical use = shrinking the carbon footprint: The production, transport, and use of industrial disinfectants carries a significant carbon burden. Ozone, replacing chlorine and other oxidant chemicals, eliminates this burden. In the textile sector, ozone bleaching reduces chemical use by over 80% and water consumption by 60–70% while markedly reducing wastewater COD and colour load (Anseros/SWR2 report; Textile Study Center, 2025). The reduction in water consumption is also critical from an energy standpoint: less water to heat, pump, and treat means less energy and fewer emissions.
Reducing wastewater load = protecting natural resources: Ozone-based advanced oxidation (AOP) breaks down pharmaceutical residues, dyes, and refractory organic compounds that biological treatment cannot remove. This enables industrial facilities to transfer high-quality water to receiving environments, achieving regulatory compliance. With ozone, an additional 70–90% COD removal and 90%+ colour removal at biological treatment outlet is achievable.
Enabling water recovery: Returning treated wastewater to process is one of the highest-priority solutions in the fight against water scarcity. Ozone provides the microbiological assurance this cycle requires without leaving chemical residue. In water-intensive sectors such as textiles, pulp-paper, and food processing, this gain offers a dual advantage: water costs fall and environmental pressure decreases.
Sectors Covered by COP31's Scope and Ozone
Ozone offers an applicable solution in almost every sector highlighted in COP31's green industrialisation agenda:
Textiles: Under ZDHC and EU Green Deal pressure to zero hazardous chemical discharge and reduce water consumption. Ozone bleaching addresses both targets simultaneously.
Pulp and Paper: The transition to TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) bleaching is becoming mandatory under EU IPPC directives. Ozone replaces chlorine dioxide and elemental chlorine, preserving product quality while zeroing dioxin/furan emissions.
Food Processing: The demand for ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ positioning drives the need to move away from chlorine. Ozone, as the only GRAS-approved chemical-free disinfection tool, answers this demand.
Refining and Petrochemicals: In process wastewater containing high COD and refractory organic contaminants, ozone-based AOP as a pre- or post-treatment to biological treatment eases regulatory compliance pressure.
Where Does Türkiye Stand in This Transformation?
Türkiye, due to its EU accession process and export dependency, is among the countries that will be most directly affected by COP31's green industrialisation agenda. CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) is turning the carbon burden into a concrete cost item for Turkish facilities exporting to Europe. In this context, for Turkish producers in textiles, steel, and food processing, any technology that reduces water consumption, chemical use, and wastewater load is becoming a strategic investment from both a compliance and competitiveness standpoint.
Conclusion
COP31's green industrialisation agenda places ozone technology at the centre of the industrial sustainability journey. Not directly capturing carbon, but systematically reducing chemical use, water consumption, and wastewater load, ozone is a measurable, auditable solution that maintains production capacity while reducing environmental pressure. With these properties, it continues to be an indispensable tool for industrial facilities seeking compliance with COP31 commitments.