Monthly News from the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), May 2026

The project “Mass Balance and Attribution Approaches for Chemicals from Recycling and Biomass: Evaluation, Impacts and Alignment” aims to build a robust, independent, and practical evidence base to support informed decision-making on mass balance approaches. Covering eight complementary modules, the project will assess current methodologies, address key weaknesses in the ongoing debate, and work towards a joint, science-based position grounded in comprehensive impact evaluation.

With the “Biomass Risk Navigator”, RCI addresses the often polarised and emotionally charged debate around biomass use. Topics such as deforestation, food security, water availability, biodiversity, and greenwashing are frequently discussed without a harmonised evidence base. This project will develop a transparent, science-driven framework to assess biomass-related risks and enable stakeholders across industry, policy, and civil society to communicate using a shared language and methodology.

In parallel, RCI is launching a “SBTi White Paper” to address current limitations in the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard and related GHG Protocol methodologies. At present, these frameworks do not adequately recognise the climate benefits of switching from virgin fossil carbon to renewable carbon sources such as biomass, carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), and recycling. The project will deliver clear and actionable recommendations to better reflect defossilisation pathways and remove existing disincentives in carbon accounting.

Together, these three projects mark an important step in strengthening the scientific foundation, policy alignment, and practical implementation of renewable carbon solutions in the transition towards a defossilised chemical industry.

Your Input Matters: Participate in the RCI Survey on Renewable Carbon Terminology

The transition away from virgin fossil carbon toward renewable carbon sources is gaining momentum worldwide – but discussions, definitions, and communication around this transition remain fragmented

We invite you to take part in an important survey as part of RCI’s project “Raising Awareness of Renewable Carbon Discussions Across Regions.”

Please complete the survey here and share it within your network

https://nova-institute.eu/survey/index.php/525771?lang=en

Why your participation is essential

The transition away from virgin fossil carbon toward renewable carbon sources – such as biomass, carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), and recycling – is gaining momentum worldwide. However, discussions, definitions, and communication around this transition remain fragmented.

Different regions, including Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa, are advancing in their own ways, shaped by local policies, economic conditions, and sustainability priorities. At the same time, major global frameworks like the GHG Protocol and the Science Based Targets Initiative have not yet fully integrated these concepts.

Your input will help change this.

What your contribution supports

By participating in this survey, you help the RCI to:

• Map global perspectives and developments
• Clarify and align terminology across regions
• Improve communication between policy, industry, and value chains
• Support advocacy and awareness efforts worldwide

The shared goal

Your contribution directly supports the transition toward:

• A fully circular carbon economy based on CO₂, recycling, and biomass
• Globally aligned terminology and strategies

Take the survey now and be part of shaping the future of renewable carbon communication.

Thank you for your support!

WG Policy

The WG Policy work currently focuses on three main topics: 

• Biotech Act II Technical Questionnaire addressing the key question of where in the value chain quotas should be applied
• The quota project aims to explore how feasible bio-based and/or renewable carbon quotas can be derived in alignment with existing recycled content targets. A questionnaire to identify information needs was circulated and will be used as input for the Call for Evidence Biotech Act II. 

• RCI is very active in the Critical Chemicals Alliance’s –Working Groups 3 (Modernisation and Investments) and 4 (Lead Markets). 

RCI Roundtable

The RCI Roundtable is a member-driven, one-hour discussion format enabling structured, science-based dialogue on key renewable-carbon topics. RCI members may submit their interest to host a session, external stakeholders or partners can be invited to present, and each roundtable consists of a 15-minute topic presentation followed by 45 minutes of discussion.

Vaude (DE) – Beyond Textile-to-Textile Recycling: Why Carbon Circularity Matters

The next roundtable with the title “Beyond Textile-to-Textile Recycling: Why Carbon Circularity Matters” will be hosted by René Bethmann from Vaude on 16 June from 14:00 to 15:00 CEST.

Textile-to-textile recycling is often presented as the key solution for circularity and climate targets in the textile sector. This session takes a broader perspective and explores why recycling alone will not be enough. The discussion will look at the role of renewable carbon, CCU, bio-based feedstocks and carbon circularity, and why future strategies need to go beyond product loops and focus more strongly on how carbon is sourced, used and kept in the system. The session aims to open a cross-industry discussion on practical pathways towards defossilisation and net-zero.

Redefining the Carbon Accounting Rules for Scope 3 GhG Emissions

Current carbon accounting frameworks often fail to fully recognise the climate value of renewable feedstocks and biogenic carbon. That slows innovation exactly where acceleration is needed.

This initiative from Braskem “I’m green™ bio-based” with the support of Carbon Trust pushes for more accurate, science-aligned accounting rules that better reflect real carbon impacts across value chains.

The RCI has signed this initiative and wants to highlight its importance.  

If you believe carbon accounting should evolve to support credible defossilisation and scalable low-carbon materials, you can sign here: https://www.braskem.com/imgreen/redefining-the-carbon-accounting-rules-for-scope-3-ghg-emissions

By adding your voice, you are helping strengthen the recognition of bio-based materials and their role in climate change mitigation through improved Scope 3 accounting for biogenic carbon.

RCI Ambassador Activities

On 12 May, Michael represented RCI at Plastics Europe in Frankfurt/Main, delivering a talk that highlighted the role of renewable carbon in the plastics transition. On the same day, Anke strengthened RCI’s network at the Interpack Trade Fair in Düsseldorf through targeted stakeholder engagement.

On 19 May, RCI hosted the webinar “The next 12 months matter – shape EU policy and renewable chemicals with RCI,” which brought together 36 participants to discuss upcoming policy developments and strategic opportunities for advancing renewable carbon in Europe.

Looking ahead, RCI continues its active policy engagement with several high-level meetings scheduled. On 1 June, discussions will take place with DG GROW. This will be followed by an exchange with the BIC Office on 2 June. On 3 June, RCI will engage with DG ENV and DG RTD, further strengthening its dialogue with key European Commission stakeholders.

Source

Renewable Carbon Initiative, original text, 2026-06-02.

Supplier

European Parliament
European Union
Fraunhofer-Institut für angewandte Polymerforschung (IAP)
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI)
Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
VAUDE

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