Monthly news from the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), April 2024

Let's take a look at what happened in April 2024 at RCI

Joint Statement by EU Member States the Netherlands, France, Ireland and the Czech Republic on a European Sustainable Carbon Regulation Package. Left to right: Irish Minister of State for Circular Economy Ossian Smyth, EC Climate Commissar Peter Hoekstra, Dutch Minister for Environment Vivianne Heijnen 

1) Joint Statement by EU Member States the Netherlands, France, Ireland and the Czech Republic on a European Sustainable Carbon Policy Package

On 16 April 2024, a major milestone was reached in the transition to sustainable carbon in the European chemical industry. The Dutch government together with representatives from the Member States France, the Czech Republic and Ireland presented a joint statement “A Call for a European Sustainable Carbon Policy Package” to the European Commission, represented by European Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra, who warmly welcomed the initiative. It was the first time ever that European politicians presented a paper on the defossilisation of the chemical industry and asked the Commission for strong action and a long-term vision. 

Katja Wodjereck (left), Executive Vice President Renewable Products at Neste and Michael Carus (right), Executive Manager of the Renewable Carbon Initiative at the Joint Statement

Industry associations have been calling for years to overcome the lack of a level playing field between the energy and fuel sectors, where the transition away from fossil fuels is strongly supported by various instruments such as quotas, and the chemicals and materials sector, where there are no comparable incentives at all. The concept of defossilisation was first introduced by the Renewable Carbon Initiative in 2020 to replace the fossil carbon embedded in chemicals and materials with biomass, CO2 and recycled materials. It was no less than a long-awaited milestone for several initiatives and associations in the chemicals and materials sector when the Dutch minister for the environment, Vivianne Hejinen, delivered the following message: 

“In our statement we propose that an overarching European policy framework is needed in order to achieve the transition from fossil to sustainable carbon feedstocks in the chemical sector. Such a framework is essential if we’re to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the European chemical industry, while at the same time transforming it into a truly sustainable industry.” 

Key industry players, including Neste (in person of Katja Wodjereck) and Cefic (in person of Marco Mensink) support the initiative and emphasise the need for market creation and long-term vision.

You can find more info on the joint statement at https://www.government.nl/documents/publications/2024/04/15/joint-statement-on-a-european-sustainable-carbon-policy-package

2) Signing the Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Deal

On 16 April 2024, RCI signed the Antwerp Declaration. RCI is of the firm belief that it is necessary for Europe to actively shape the future landscape of its industry, maintain competitiveness and keep high-value jobs in Europe.

In particular, RCI is in complete alignment with points 3, 5 and 6:

  • Make Europe a globally competitive provider of energy: Providing globally competitive energy through grid expansion for hydrogen and other renewable and low-carbon molecules (point 3)
  • Increasing EU’s raw material security including bio-based feedstocks and CCU (point 5) 
  • Boosting demand for net zero, low carbon and circular products (point 6)

The pursuit of a European Industrial Deal is paramount, yet it’s the integration of sustainability that truly forms its core. This is not only necessary to achieve high-level targets such as net zero by 2050, but also because it will strongly support innovative solutions and because public acceptance and support will only be achieved with a transparent and credible path to sustainability. Moreover, for industries reliant on carbon, renewable carbon is indispensable in forging a sustainable path forward.

Find the Antwerp Declaration here: https://antwerp-declaration.eu

3) CO₂-based Fuels and Chemicals Conference 2024

From 16 to 17 April 2024, 231 participants from 7 countries attended the CO₂-based Fuels and Chemicals Conference 2024. With 39 inspiring presentations from international top speakers, 30 interesting posters, and 13 exhibitors, the conference offered a platform for experts to explore advancements in CCU and Power-to-X technologies enabling a sustainable industrial transition towards renewable carbon. 

Six nominees showcased their innovative CCU solutions to a diverse audience of global experts. Following this, a majority of the attendees participated in live voting to select the three winners of the “Best CO2 Utilisation 2024” innovation award. From renewable ethylene to textile fibres and plastics to cutting edge plasma-based CO2 conversion and a synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) reducing lifecycle emissions, the three winning CCU solutions open the road to transition away from fossil resources.

RCI member Dioxycle (FR) won the prestigious Innovation Award “Best CO₂ Utilisation 2024”. Sarah Lamaison (Co-founder and CEO, Dioxycle) delivered an inspiring speech highlighting the remarkable capabilities of Dioxycle’s Ethylene Producing Electrolyser. The Ethylene Producing Electrolyser converts industrial emissions into sustainable ethylene using just renewable electricity and water. Ethylene is the world’s most used organic chemical, finding application in key everyday products such as textile fibres, plastics and construction materials. Dioxycle can produce carbon-neutral ethylene at a cost competitive with the fossil pathway, providing an economically attractive way to defossilise many industrial and commercial sectors. 

More information: www.dioxycle.com and https://co2-chemistry.eu/

4) Renewable Materials Conference 2024

The RMC is the world’s largest conference on renewable chemicals and materials taking place from 11-13 June 2024 in Siegburg/Cologne, Germany and online. It’s considered the number one meeting point for industry, academia, investors and policy makers for the defossilisation of chemicals and materials. It covers the entire value chain from alternative carbon feedstocks, the chemical industry, the materials sector, product manufacturers to brand owners and investors. Nearly 500 participants from 32 countries attended the last conference in May 2023, 90% of whom were from industry.

This year, over three days, top speakers from industry, academia and policy will present and discuss the latest updates on technology, innovation, policy and markets to an international audience of experts: 80 presentations, 20 panel discussions and more than ten workshops. Companies, associations and institutes are invited to run a workshop and take part in the exhibition. 

RCI members receive a 20% early bird discount for the upcoming Renewable Materials Conference (RMC) until 6 May 2024. 

5) RCI webinar on 15 April 2024

During the last RCI webinar on 15 April 2024, 35 people listened to Michael Carus, Executive Manager of the RCI, who introduced the Renewable Carbon Initiative and the Renewable Carbon Strategy, and focused on the upcoming scientific background report “RCI Position Paper on Chemical and Physical Recycling” which will be published soon. 

Given the focus topic of this webinar and BASF’s expertise in the recycling industry, Dr. Christian Krueger (Chemical Recycling | BASF Net Zero Accelerator) from BASF was a speaker at the webinar. 

6) New segment: RCI member portraits

In February, RCI launched a new feature to highlight its members – RCI Member Portraits. 

Each month we will give you an insight into a different member company. In this issue, we would like to introduce you to ADM (USA).

Here are 5 interesting facts about ADM as shared by Jan Weernink (Global Marketing Director – BioSolutions, ADM)

  1. Diverse Product Portfolio: ADM is one of the world’s largest processors of food crops. Beyond food and feed, it also includes plan-based ingredients to the chemicals and materials industry, which enable formulators to replace petrochemical ingredients and product development engineers to increase plant-based content in their products. 
  2. Responsible Sourcing Programs: ADM takes pride in its responsible sourcing programs, ensuring traceability and supporting local practices. The company has set a goal to be deforestation-free in all its supply chains by 2025, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
  3. Contribution to Climate Change Mitigation: ADM’s utilisation of biomass in industrial contexts is seen as a way to supplant conventional fossil resources and reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels, contributing significantly to addressing climate change.
  4. Innovation Hub: ADM is committed to innovation in food and agriculture. It operates research and development centers where scientists work on developing new products, improving existing ones, and finding sustainable solutions to industry challenges. This focus on innovation helps ADM stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market. 
  5. Historial Roots: Combining industry knowledge with a commitment to excellence, ADM has been seizing opportunities for 120 years. From its origins as a regional linseed oil company, the company has grown into a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s leading agricultural origination and processing company.

ADM demonstrates its commitment to sustainability through its responsible sourcing, traceability, and focus on renewable carbon.

Stay tuned for more member portraits and inspiring stories from RCI!

Find out more about ADM here: https://renewable-carbon-initiative.com/members/adm/

Source

Renewable Carbon Initiative, original text, 2024-04-30.

Supplier

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM)
BASF Corporation (US)
European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC)
European Commission
Government of the Netherlands
Neste Corporation
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI)

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