nova-Institute host the chemical industry defossilisation summit

The global industry depends on fossil feedstock such as crude oil, natural gas and coal. These are linked to several problems, the main ones being climate change, an insecure supply, high price volatility, a linear economy rather than a circular one, and a failure to achieve resilience and strategic autonomy. Furthermore, Europe is unable to compete with other regions of the world that have better access to cheaper crude oil.

However, for some sectors, including the chemical and plastics industries, carbon has so far been an indispensable component of a wide range of everyday products. Unlike the energy sector, these sectors cannot be fully decarbonised – they must be defossilised. To achieve this, fossil carbon must be replaced by renewable carbon sources derived from biomass, CO₂ and recycling.

But how can we escape the ‘fossil trap’ and transition to renewable carbon? Fortunately, thousands of scientists and companies, ranging from start-ups to large multinationals, have been working on technologies, scaling up and policy strategies for this shift for years. Policy makers are starting to support the transition using various instruments.

The Renewable Materials Conference has evolved into a summit for the chemical defossilisation sector, where these pioneers meet and discuss their latest developments and strategies. What is already possible today? When will new technologies become mainstream?

From 22 to 24 September, 400 to 500 experts will meet in Siegburg/Cologne (Germany) to attend 75 presentations, 20 panel discussions and 17 interactive workshops. There will also be an exhibition, plenty of opportunities for networking during long coffee and lunch breaks, and three evening events. A user-friendly matchmaking tool will be available too.

Final program here: https://renewable-materials.eu/program/

22 September: Defossilisation of the chemical industry: Renewable Carbon Strategies; New Pathways: Fine and Speciality Chemicals; Lignin and CO₂ utilisation. The day will conclude with a highlight Panel Discussion on “Quadruple System Shock as Catalysts for Industrial Transformation“, a crucial aspect for realising defossilsation.

23 September: Fossil-free plastics: Market and Application Development, Coating, Adhesives and Binders; CO₂-based Polymers; Recycled Polymers & Plastics; Automotive, Consumer Goods, Packaging, Textiles and Toys. The second conference day culminates with the election of the prestigious Innovation Award “Renewable Material of the Year 2026”.

24 September: Setting the frame for renewable carbon: Creating Market Pull; Vision & Strategy. Biodegradation: Science & Policy Progress; Applications; System Solutions.

All information and registration: https://renewable-materials.eu

Last exhibition booths available: https://renewable-materials.eu/exhibition-booking/

Selection of participants

++ ADM International ++ Alfred Talke ++ Asahi Kasei ++ BASF ++ Beckers Group ++ Beiersdorf ++ BLOOM ++ Braskem ++ Cargill ++ Clariant ++ Covestro ++ Crop Energies ++ DSM-Firmenich ++ Dutch Ministry ++ ENI ++ European Commission ++ Evonik ++ FECC ++ Henkel ++ Heraeus ++ IFF ++ ING Bank ++ Kemira ++ Kimberly-Clark ++ Klüber Lubrication ++ Kraton Chemical ++ Lego ++ Michelin ++ Mosca ++ Neste ++ Nippon Shokubai ++ Omya ++ On ++ Peter Greven ++ Rheinmetall ++ Schneider Electric ++ SBTI ++ Stahl ++ SYENSQO ++ UPM ++ Verbio ++ Volvo ++

Please find all registered participants here: https://renewable-materials.eu/participant-list/

Thanks to Sponsors and Partners

The nova-Institute would like to thank UPM Biochemicals (FI) for supporting the conference as Platin Sponsor, Celluranics (CN), GS Biomats (CN), IFF (BE), Leaf Biotech (CN), L’Oreal (FR) and VERBIO (DE) as Gold Sponsors, as well as DIN CERTCO (DE), Peterson Solutions (DE) and TÜV Austria Belgium (BE) as Silver Sponsors. The innovation award “Renewable Material of the Year 2026” is sponsored by Covestro (DE).

More sponsors are welcome: https://renewable-materials.eu/sponsoring/

The Renewable Materials Conference is supported by industry and trade associations, non-profit organisations, research institutions and interest groups that are thematically linked to the conference: AVK (DE), BCNP (DE), BIC – Bio-based Industries Consortium (EU), BioBase (AT), bündnis mikroplastikfrei (AT), C.A.R.M.E.N.(DE), ChemCologne (DE), ChemieClusterBayern (DE), CLIB (DE), CO2Value Europe (EU), European Bioplastics (EU), FECC – European Association of Chemical Distributors (EU), GO!PHA (International), IBB Netzwerk (DE), INAK (DE), kunststoffland NRW (DE), NRW.Energy4Climate (DE), ÖGUT – Österreichische Gesellschaft für Umwelt und Technik (AT), Plastics Europe (DE), Renewable Carbon Initiative (International).