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

In April, a survey on non-fossil carbon terminology was circulated, and participation is still encouraged, along with a kind request to distribute it widely. An upcoming free RCI webinar will provide insights into key EU policy developments shaping the transition to renewable carbon. The next Roundtable, “Beyond Textile-to-Textile Recycling: Why Carbon Circularity Matters,” is scheduled for 16 June and will be hosted by René Bethmann from Vaude (DE). In WG Sustainability, work has focused on SBTi/GHG Protocol engagement and the preparation of a project on recycling in LCA, while in WG Policy, discussions have addressed the post-2030 renewable energy framework, the Quotas project, and ongoing activities within the Critical Chemicals Alliance. In addition, a new member, the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP (DE), has been welcomed, and recent ambassador activities have been reported.

General Assembly 2026

RCI’s annual General Assembly will take place in Cologne on Tuesday, 3 November and Wednesday, 4 November 2026. The meeting will take place at the same venue as last year: The Hyatt Regency in Cologne (Kennedy-Ufer 2a, 50679 Köln)

The main part of the meeting on the first day will focus on reviewing the past year, discussing administrative and organisational matters, and looking ahead to future activities and strategic priorities. On the second day, a half-day session will be dedicated to member presentations, highlighting new technologies, ideas, networking opportunities, and strategies for collaboration. 

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: 

The public consultation on the post-2030 renewable energy framework. Although it is not a core focus of RCI, it has significant implications for many renewable carbon topics. Therefore, an RCI contribution will be submitted.

• Based on discussions within PPWR and ELV about future quotas for bio-based plastics, RCI started a project on quotas. This project aims to explore how feasible bio-based and/or renewable carbon quotas can be derived in alignment with existing recycled content targets.

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

WG Sustainability 

The WG Sustainability work currently focuses on the initiation of new projects to address topics related to the SBTi/GHG Protocol and the role of recycling within LCA. In parallel, with regards to the EF TAB a publication is expected on updated recommendations in the near future, which will be open for public consultation.

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.

RCI Webinar: Engage now – the next 12 months will define EU policy and your business for decades 

Join RCI to actively shape the transformation towards sustainable, renewable chemicals

Join us on 19 May 2026, 14:00 to 15:00 CEST for our upcoming free RCI webinar.

What to expect: 

• How RCI works, what is the focus of RCI and how you can profit from it?
• Who are the members?
• Top background reports with impacts
• Running and future projects (Biodiversity, Carbon Flows, Mass Balance and Attribution, LCA and Recycling and more)
• Science-based Advocacy in Brussels, main achievements: Key levers in policymaking to promote chemicals and materials based on biomass, CCU and recycling
• Insights into the latest EU policy developments and how to actively shape the transformation towards renewable chemicals and materials
• How RCI members can actively influence and accelerate the transformation of the chemical industry

It has never been more important to be an RCI member – to stay well-informed and play an active role in key political decisions in Brussels around the transformation of the chemical industry.

• When: 19 May, 14:00 – 15:00 CEST
• Speaker: Michael Carus, Executive Manager of the RCI
• Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/IhrX_ub_QLGVjI9vQ6CEJw

Calling start-ups, brands, SMEs and large enterprises – become part of RCI to help build a resilient, independent and thriving circular economy.

Ambassador Activities

Launch event of CEPS report “Policy options to create lead markets for feedstocks in the chemical industry“ | 21 April

How to create lead markets for clean, sustainable and circular feedstocks in the chemical industry? That was the guiding question of an in-person event by CEPS in Brussels, following the launch of a report the topic: https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-publications/policy-options-to-create-lead-markets-for-clean-sustainable-and-circular-feedstocks-in-the-chemical-industry/

The CEPS workshop consisted of two panels, including DG GROW, DG CLIMA as well as the RCI Office and RCI members, to explore policy options for creating lead markets for clean, sustainable and circular feedstocks – a key tool proposed in the Industrial Accelerator Act.

European Parliament – Industrial Growth in Europe: Investing in Renewable & Circular Value Chains | 22 April

The RCI-Office joined an in-person meeting in Brussels at the European Parliament on “Industrial Growth in Europe: Investing in Renewable & Circular Value Chains”. Co-hosted by Angelika Niebler and Katri Kulmuni, the presentation highlighted Europe’s shift toward an integrated industrial policy focused on scaling clean technologies, boosting investment, and strengthening the Single Market. Central to this transformation are bio-based innovation and circular economy solutions, which aim to reduce raw material dependence, improve resource efficiency, and build high-value industrial ecosystems. Supported by upcoming initiatives like the Circular Economy Act, Bioeconomy Strategy, Biotech Act II, and Industrial Accelerator Act, the EU is working to mobilise capital, accelerate projects, and reinforce “Made in Europe” value chains.

CO₂-based Fuels and Chemicals Conference 2026 | 28 – 29 April 2026) Maternushaus, Cologne (Germany), hybrid

The RCI-Office, as a partner of nova conferences, participated in the CO₂-based Fuels and Chemicals Conference 2026 in Cologne. The conference highlighted the key role of artificial intelligence in accelerating the transition from fossil to renewable carbon across biomass, CCU, and recycling pathways. Once more the event showcased the latest innovations and most important developments in the fast-growing field of Carbon Capture and Utilisation with plenty of opportunities to network.

More information: https://co2-chemistry.eu

New Member

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP (DE) specializes in the development of (bio)polymers and nanomaterials, plastics processing, functional integration, lightweight technologies, and the chemical recycling of plastics. With around 270 employees the institute works along the entire value chain – from initial idea to industrial-scale implementation. 

Source

Renewable Carbon Initiative, original text, 2026-05-04.

Supplier

European Parliament
European Union
Fraunhofer-Institut für angewandte Polymerforschung (IAP)
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI)

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