If your business relies on a regular supply of liquid CO₂ — whether you’re in food and beverage production, cold chain logistics, or industrial processing — you may already be feeling the pressure of rising costs. And if you haven’t yet, there’s a good chance you will soon.
The reason? Ongoing conflicts can send shockwaves through global energy markets, pushing natural gas prices higher. For most businesses, that might seem like a problem confined to heating bills and electricity costs. But for CO₂ users, the impact runs much deeper — and it comes down to where most industrial CO₂ actually comes from.
The Hidden Link Between Natural Gas and Your CO₂ Supply
Most people don’t realise that the vast majority of industrial CO₂ produced in the UK and across Europe is a byproduct of fossil fuel-based processes — most notably natural gas processing, ammonia production, and fertiliser manufacturing.
This means that when natural gas prices rise — driven by geopolitical tensions, supply disruptions, or market speculation — the cost of producing and supplying CO₂ rises with it. Your CO₂ supplier isn’t immune to the energy market. In many cases, they’re directly exposed to it.
This isn’t a new problem. The UK experienced a stark reminder of this vulnerability back in 2021, when high natural gas prices forced the temporary closure of two major fertiliser plants, triggering a national CO₂ shortage that threatened food supplies across the country. The crisis made headlines, caused panic buying, and exposed just how fragile the UK’s CO₂ supply chain really is.
Fast forward to today, and the geopolitical landscape is once again putting pressure on natural gas markets. For businesses that haven’t diversified their CO₂ sourcing, history could be about to repeat itself.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
The practical implications for CO₂-dependent businesses are significant:
- Price volatility — Expect cost increases from suppliers whose CO₂ is linked to natural gas or fertiliser production
- Supply uncertainty — If natural gas prices rise high enough to make certain production processes uneconomical, supply could tighten rapidly
- Budget planning challenges — Unpredictable CO₂ pricing makes it extremely difficult to forecast operational costs with any confidence
- Reputational risk — For businesses with green commitments and ESG targets, relying on fossil fuel-derived CO₂ is increasingly difficult to justify
For food and beverage businesses in particular — where CO₂ is essential for carbonation, packaging, and preservation — any disruption to supply or a sudden spike in costs can have a serious knock-on effect on operations and margins.
There Is a Better Way: Renewable CO₂ from Anaerobic Digestion
At Pro Gases UK, we take a fundamentally different approach to CO₂ supply — one that insulates our customers from the kind of market volatility we’re seeing right now.
Our liquid CO₂ is captured from anaerobic digestion (AD) plants that are fed entirely by energy crops. Here’s why that matters:
What Is Anaerobic Digestion?
Anaerobic digestion is a natural biological process in which organic materials — in our case, dedicated energy crops — are broken down by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen. This process produces biogas, which is rich in CO₂ and methane. Rather than letting that CO₂ escape into the atmosphere, we capture, purify, and liquefy it for use across a wide range of industries.
The result is a high-quality, food-grade liquid CO₂ that is genuinely renewable, genuinely green, and — crucially — not linked to fossil fuel markets.
The Key Benefits of AD-Sourced CO₂
1. Price Stability Because our CO₂ source has no connection to natural gas or fossil fuel processing, we are not subject to the same price pressures that are currently affecting the majority of the market. While other suppliers may be passing on cost increases driven by Middle East instability, our pricing is far more stable and predictable.
2. Genuine Green Credentials This isn’t greenwashing. Our CO₂ is captured from a renewable biological process, powered by energy crops. It’s CO₂ that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere — we’re intercepting it and putting it to productive use. For businesses with net zero commitments or ESG reporting requirements, switching to AD-sourced CO₂ is a meaningful, verifiable step in the right direction.
3. Food-Grade Quality Our CO₂ meets the rigorous standards required for use in food and beverage applications. You don’t have to compromise on quality to choose a greener, more stable supply.
4. UK-Based Supply Chain Our CO₂ is produced right here in the UK, from UK energy crops. That means shorter supply chains, lower transport emissions, and less exposure to the kind of international disruptions that affect imported or globally traded commodities.
5. Supply Resilience Because our production process is independent of natural gas markets, we are better positioned to maintain consistent supply even when global energy markets are in turmoil. For businesses that can’t afford downtime or supply gaps, that resilience is invaluable.
Is Now the Right Time to Review Your CO₂ Supply?
If the events of recent months have taught us anything, it’s that supply chain resilience isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. Businesses that depend on fossil fuel-linked CO₂ are exposed to risks that are largely outside their control: geopolitical events, energy market speculation, and the operational decisions of a small number of large producers.
Switching to a renewable, UK-based CO₂ source won’t just protect you from the next price spike. It will also:
- Strengthen your sustainability credentials
- Simplify your ESG reporting
- Give you greater confidence in your supply continuity
- Position your business as a forward-thinking, responsible operator
The question isn’t really whether renewable CO₂ makes sense. The question is how long you can afford to wait.
Talk to Pro Gases UK Today
We supply bulk liquid CO₂ to large businesses across the UK, and we’d love to talk to you about how we can help secure your supply chain against the kind of volatility we’re seeing in today’s market.
Whether you’re looking to switch suppliers, diversify your sourcing, or simply understand your options better, our team is here to help.
📞 Call Mark Dziuba, Head of Bulk Gases on 07307 406732 📩 Email us at mark.dziuba@progasesuk.com 🌐 Visit us at www.progasesuk.com
Don’t wait for the next shortage. Get ahead of it.