Reducing Super Pollutants: An Effort Many Executives Haven’t Heard Of

What are superpollutants, exactly?​

Superpollutants include greenhouse gases like methane, fluorinated gases (which are often used as refrigerants) and nitrous oxide (N2O). These are gases doing massive damage, yet getting little airtime. While CO2 has dominated the climate conversation for decades, these lesser-known gases punch well above their weight.​

N2O, in particular, is 273 times more potent than CO2 and sticks around in the atmosphere for more than a century. It depletes the ozone layer and impacts public health in addition to our environment. And in my experience in this space, most companies aren’t touching it. Compared to CO2 or even methane, it barely registers in mainstream climate coverage.​

That’s a whitespace opportunity.​ Superpollutants represent an under-explored area for companies looking to improve their climate impact and business resilience.​

What’s the business case?

I often hear sustainability framed as a cost center or a nice-to-have. That framing misses something important: Superpollutant abatement can be good for business.​

When companies reduce superpollutants in their operations, they’re not making marginal improvements to their emissions profile. Because N2O is 273 times more powerful than CO2, companies prioritizing its reduction could help address some of the highest-leverage emissions in the carbon market.​

Companies can also differentiate their product and may be able to charge a low-carbon premium, allowing them to make an immediate impact and add an additional revenue stream that can be reinvested in additional decarbonization efforts. In other words, an investment that drives real climate impact could also help drive business value.

For companies with near-term climate commitments, that makes the timing of investment decisions consequential. And for public companies navigating increasing scrutiny on environmental disclosures, the integrity story matters too.

The signal from the market is already there. Earlier this year, the Beyond Alliance, a business-led coalition, announced a $100 million initiative to accelerate superpollutant reduction, with companies including Amazon, Google, JPMorganChase, Salesforce and Workday each committing to fund high-impact projects. These aren’t small players testing a trend.​​

So, where can a business start?

Begin by assessing your own operations and supply chain for superpollutant sources like N2O, methane and refrigerants. Many companies are surprised by what they find once they look. Superpollutants can turn up in far more sectors and product categories than most leaders expect, including industrial manufacturing, agriculture, transportation and everyday consumer products.

From there, prioritize direct reduction at the source. For instance, my company partnered with a chemical manufacturer to develop a voluntary N2O abatement project. The facility produces nylon 66, a high-performance material found in a variety of products, from vehicle components and airbags to textiles. The chemical process that produces it generates N2O as a byproduct.​ Using a thermal-reduction unit allows the facility to destroy N2O before it enters the atmosphere by exposing the compounds to extreme temperatures.

This is just one example of what climate investment can look like.

Pairing proven abatement technology with funding from the voluntary carbon market can make a project self-sustaining rather than a pure cost.

Whatever path you choose for reductions, the same rigor described above matters: Continuous emissions monitoring, third-party verification and independent oversight are what make a superpollutant project credible.​​

One real hurdle leaders should be aware of is capacity. Because this is still a niche project type, there aren’t yet many industry experts with the technical knowledge to design, implement and run abatement technology. Participating in and supporting market mechanisms that aim to close that gap can help by funding projects, building a track record that supports stronger policy and growing the pool of experienced practitioners over time.​​

Why is awareness still a major gap?

If superpollutants are so damaging, why aren’t more companies prioritizing abatement? I believe awareness is the honest answer. CO2 has had a decades-long head-start in the narrative. Additionally, many CO2 projects can come across as more “photogenic” than a thermal reduction unit at a chemical plant.

But the bigger blind spot is how leaders have been taught to think about this kind of investment. For years, buying carbon credits and funding emissions reduction have been framed as a costly “right thing to do.” That framing is backward. Yes, getting started requires upfront investment, but reducing emissions, including N2O and other high-potency gases, can generate revenue and other business benefits. Companies that still treat it as a line item to minimize are leaving that value on the table.​

There is also a broader communication breakdown in the sustainability industry. Those of us who work in this space too often talk to one another, rather than to the business leaders, investors and policymakers who could accelerate deployment. We need more candid and clear conversations about why companies should address superpollutants, what they stand to gain and how they can overcome challenges along the way.

A Practical Call To Action​

Superpollutants will not stay under the radar forever. Technology exists that can help, there are projects delivering results and the business case is sound. The question is simply whether your organization will be among the early movers.​

I’ve seen what happens when companies lean into solutions before the market catches up. They don’t just meet their climate goals faster. They help set the standard for what good looks like.​​​​

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