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

Let’s take a look at what happened in March 2024 at RCI:

1) 4th Co-Implementation meeting on Transition Pathway on 18 March 2024 

As stakeholder in the co-implementation process of the Transition Pathway for the chemical industry, RCI attended the 4^thplenary meeting on 18 March 2024. The meeting provided an update on current policy developments, in particular the Industrial Carbon Management Communication, the 2040 climate targets, new regulation on waste shipment and funding opportunities by EIB. Afterwards, the group discussed submitted transition initiatives, progress on the action items described in the transition pathway, focus topics tackled by task forces, and wider developments in the vicinity of the transition pathways like the Stakeholder Support Platform.

2) Meeting with DG Grow, DG Clima and DG Envi on 19 March 2024

On 19 March, the executive office of RCI team in person of Michael Carus and Christopher vom Berg, visited several DGs of the European Commission in Brussels to discuss a range of current topics, issues and RCI projects. The meetings with DG GROW & MOVE, DG CLIMA and DG ENV focused on updates to fossil footprints in Life-Cycle databases; some critical framework and policy aspects to consider in LCA; the interplay of the fuel sector and the chemical & material sector when it comes to carbon as a feedstock, and how current transport regulation impact the material sector, considerations on a BIC/RCI project about sustainable biomass supply. We see exciting developments that put the topic of renewable carbon more in focus, but at the same time there is still a lot of work to do and bridges to build in order to find a comprehensive approaches and solutions.

3) RCI is now a member of the Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels Value Chain Industrial Alliance (RCLF) 

The Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels Value Chain Industrial Alliance (RCLF) focuses on boosting production and supply of renewable and low-carbon fuels in the aviation and waterborne sectors. It is a key flanking measure to the FuelEU Maritime Regulation 2023/1805 and ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation 2023/2405 initiatives.  

The Alliance is a voluntary collaboration of stakeholders from across the transport fuels and other relevant value chains, from sourcing to end-users, as well as technology and finance providers for each step in the value chain. They represent both the fuels supply and demand sides from the aviation and waterborne sectors, as well as civil society organisation, governments and their agencies.

This Alliance is led by DG MOVE. Our application to the RCLF was on the advice of DG MOVE.

4) Upcoming free RCI webinar on 15 April 2024

During the next RCI webinar on 15 April 2024, 14:00 to 15:00 h CEST, Michael Carus of RCI is going to introduce the Renewable Carbon Initiative and the Renewable Carbon Strategy, and focuses 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 will be a speaker at the webinar. 

Please feel free to join us: https://renewable-carbon-initiative.com/events/

5) Renewable Materials Conference 

The Renewable Materials Conference (RMC) is the largest conference on renewable carbon and will take place on 11 – 13 June 2024 in Siegburg/Cologne (Germany) – the meeting point for global leaders in industry, science and politics. A wide range of concepts and technologies will be addressed at the conference: circularity, renewable refineries, and chemical recycling as well as new process technologies. Technologies to produce more sustainable chemicals, building blocks, polymers, plastics and fine chemicals based on renewable carbon: recycling, biomass or CO₂. Up-to-date information on new innovations, markets, sustainability and political framework provide a comprehensive picture of possible future developments. One highlight is the Innovation Award: after six pre-selected presentations, the audience will vote on the “Renewable Material of the Year 2024”.

Find more information at https://renewable-materials.eu/

RCI members get a 20% early bird discount for joining the RMC.

6) New market reports on bio-based building blocks & polymers and on advanced recycling by nova-institute 

In the last two months, nova-Institute published two new and for the topic of renewable carbon highly relevant market reports. One focuses on bio-based building blocks and polymers – ”Bio-based Building Blocks and Polymers – Global Capacities, Production and Trends 2023–2028” (find out more at https://renewable-carbon.eu/publications/product/bio-based-building-blocks-and-polymers-global-capacities-production-and-trends-2023-2028-short-version/) and the other on advanced recycling – “Mapping of advanced plastic waste recycling technologies and their global capacities” (find out more at https://renewable-carbon.eu/publications/product/mapping-of-advanced-plastic-waste-recycling-technologies-and-their-global-capacities-short-version-pdf/). For both reports, short versions are available free of charge, to enable getting a better overview of the content.

RCI members enjoy a permanent 10% discount on all commercial nova reports available on the renewable carbon publication platform.

7) 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 VAUDE Sport & Co. KG, Germany.

Here are 5 interesting facts about VAUDE as shared by René Bethmann (Senior Innovation Manager).

1. European roots: Founded in 1974 by Albrecht von Dewitz in Tettnang, Germany, VAUDE has deep European roots. Over the decades, the company has grown from a one-man operation to one of Europe’s leading outdoor brands. In 2009, Albrecht’s daughter, Antje von Dewitz, took over the management of the company and transformed VAUDE into a company fully committed to sustainability. 

• Multi-activity gear: VAUDE offers a wide range of innovative and sustainable outdoor gear and apparel designed for a variety of activities, including hiking, mountaineering, cycling, skiing and more. Whether it’s a lightweight backpack for a day hike or a full-featured mountaineering jacket for extreme conditions, VAUDE has gear for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. As a sustainable outdoor brand, VAUDE creates products, solutions and services that are environmentally friendly and fair.

• Pioneering sustainability: VAUDE is at the forefront of sustainable outdoor manufacturing. Since 2022, VAUDE has been producing 100% carbon neutral outdoor gear, offsetting its global greenhouse gas emissions and aiming for a carbon neutral supply chain by 2030. In addition, since 2022, half of all products are made primarily from renewable materials, reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 50% (depending on the material) compared to virgin materials.

• Use of renewable carbon: VAUDE is undergoing a major transformation from virgin fossil material portfolio toward a renewable carbon portfolio. Recycled input streams currently represent the largest fraction. Especially when it comes to availability and scaling. Nevertheless, VAUDE has already done a lot of pioneering work in the commercialisation of biomass. VAUDE monitors CO₂-based materials from CCU very closely and sees them as a strong pillar in the near future. By 2024, 90 % of all VAUDE products should have a bio-based/renewable or recycled material content of more than 50 %. 

• Take-back and recycling system: Unbelievable amounts of textile waste end up in landfills and incinerations. VAUDE’s strategy to reduce waste is to invest in product design to make their products repairable and recyclable. Apart from VAUDE’s repair service where customers’ defective products can be repaired, the company is also ambitious to work on collective take-back and recycling systems. Long before the industry was talking about the issue of textile recycling, VAUDE had founded the “VAUDE Ecolog Recycling Network” in 1994. It was the first recycling system in the industry for pure polyester products, with take-back and recycling. However, since VAUDE‘s products lasted virtually forever, they had to discontinue Ecolog. VAUDE is now aware that it makes little sense for a single brand to set up its own take-back and recycling system, so VAUDE’s ambition is to work on collective industry solutions through networks and initiatives. 

With its commitment to sustainability and focus on innovation, VAUDE continues to inspire outdoor enthusiasts around the world to explore nature while taking care of the planet. We are proud to have VAUDE as part of our renewable carbon community. 

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

Find out more about VAUDE here: https://renewable-carbon-initiative.com/members/vaude-sport/

8) Welcoming our newest RCI members

We would like to welcome our newest members: Danish Technological Institute, Dioxycle and ARKEMA!

Danish Technological Institute (DK) is a leading research and technology institute. DTI specialises in providing 42,000 technological solutions, innovation, and research-based consultancy services to businesses, industries, and public institutions. DTI’s focus areas include Food & Production, Materials, Environmental Technology, Energy & Climate, Building & Construction. DTI collaborates with companies to help them innovate, improve processes, develop new products, and stay competitive in the global market.  

Find out more: https://www.dti.dk

Dioxycle (FR) is a start-up company founded on the principle that innovative advances and a do-it-yourself mentality can create cost-effective ways to convert waste carbon emissions into valuable feedstocks. At the heart of their solution is an electrolysis technology that breaks down carbon emissions and reconstructs them into energy-rich molecules, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional fuel and chemical production without adding to atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Find out more: http://dioxycle.com

ARKEMA (FR), is a world leader in specialty chemicals and advanced materials. Building on its unique set of expertise in materials science, Arkema designs materials to address the ever-growing demand for innovative and sustainable materials, driven by the challenges of new energies, new technologies, the depletion of resources, mobility, and increasing urbanisation.

Find out more: https://www.arkema.com/global/en/

9) Welcoming our newest RCI partner

Chemie-Cluster Bayern (DE) is a network of over 110 companies, start-ups and research institutions from all areas of chemistry, materials and biotechnology.

Chemie-Cluster Bayern connect companies, start-ups and research institutions in the chemical sector, industrial biotechnology and the circular bioeconomy. They contribute to strengthening the knowledge base of companies and realise the transfer of scientific findings into industrial applications. 

They support with funding applications and project management as well as the coordination of R&D alliances. Technology scouting, targeted support in business development and market development as well as individual B2B networking complement Chemie-Cluster Bayern’s services.

Source

Renewable Carbon Initiative, press release, 2024-03-28.

Supplier

Arkema
Chemie-Cluster Bayern
Danish Technological Institute
Dioxycle
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI)
VAUDE

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