Monthly news from the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), May 2023

1) Publication of RCI’s Position on the Commission Proposal for a Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

The RCI published the PPWR position paper on 15 May 2023 highlighting chances for the EU to lead the way to a sustainable packaging industry and to promote innovation.

In November 2022, the Commission adopted the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC. The proposed regulation includes several rules that would – if implemented – push for a much stronger circular economy in the packaging sector, due to higher re-use and refill quotas, higher use of recycled materials and mandatory composting of certain hard-to-recycle products.

The Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) welcomes this proposal and wants to offer several suggestions to strengthen it further and get implementation closer to the market realities of Europe.

1. Set ambitious targets for all types of renewable content:
   A complementary renewable content target should be added to the proposal promoting the use of bio- and CO₂-based feedstocks in packaging similar to recycling.
2. Keep Article 8 as it is – scientific evidence shows that these products offer true environmental benefits from being compostable
   The proposal, following scientific evidence, requires that certain types of tea and coffee packaging, sticky labels attached to fruit and vegetables as well as very lightweight plastic carrier bags shall be compostable in industrially controlled conditions in bio-waste treatment facilities.
3. Support the market uptake of all state-of-the-art recycling technologies
   To actually achieve the ambitious recycling quotas and recycled content targets, technologies will have to evolve. Advanced recycling technologies (i.e., depolymerisation) are key.

The PPWR position paper was also recognized by the German newspaper “K-Zeitung” https://www.k-zeitung.de/mehr-optionen-fuer-nachhaltige-verpackungen-gefordert and by Packaging Europe https://packagingeurope.com/news/renewable-carbon-initiative-encourages-addition-of-renewable-content-target-mass-balance-approach-for-chemical-recycling-and-more-to-the-ppwr/9809.article. 

Find out more at: https://renewable-carbon.eu/publications/product/the-renewable-carbon-initiatives-position-on-the-commission-proposal-for-a-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-pdf/

2) Brussels bus-tour / day-trip for European Commission contacts to the industrial sites of LanzaTech / ArcelorMittal in Ghent and iff in Bruges

On 3 May 2023, RCI organised a day-trip for interested policy makers to visit industrial facilities of our members and their renewable carbon-based products and solutions. 

Starting by bus from the Ghent train station, the trip visited the “Steelanol”-site at the ArcelorMittal steel plant in Ghent (which uses LanzaTech technology to capture the industrial off-gases and turn them into methanol) and the “yeast factory” and enzyme manufacturing of iff right in the city center of Bruges. 

Altogether, 20 participants of the European Commission and National Member States joined the trip. 

3) RCI as a partner of the Renewable Materials Conference (RMC), 23-25 May, online and on-site (Siegburg/Cologne)

465 participants from 32 countries attended the Renewable Materials Conference –the most important conference for renewable materials worldwide. The RMC provided a platform for showcasing the impressive achievements in the field of renewable materials. 

The conference brought together leading experts, stakeholders, and industry leaders to discuss latest developments and share their visions and strategies for the future. 80 exciting presentations from world’s key players in renewable chemicals and materials, 20 panel discussions, great workshops, and 41 exhibitors addressed concepts and technologies such as circularity, renewable refineries, and chemical recycling as well as new process technologies. Up-to-date information on new innovations, markets, sustainability, and political framework provided a comprehensive picture of possible future developments. Participants enjoyed extensive networking online via ZOOM, during the conference, and even after the conference while enjoying good food at a Siegburger brewery. 

One highlight was the Innovation Award “Renewable Material of the Year 2023” by which the nova-Institute (organiser) and Covestro (sponsor) recognised three particularly exciting and promising solutions that contribute to replacing fossil carbon from the ground. The winners of the prestigious innovation award are

???? KUORI (CH) – Bio-based and Biodegradable Elastic Materials

????COLIPI (DE) – Carbon-Light Yeast Oil

????traceless materials (DE) – traceless® Plastic-Free Natural Polymer

At the end of the second day of the Renewable Materials Conference in Siegburg on 24 May, an internal RCI networking meeting was held. More than 40 RCI members took advantage of this wonderful opportunity to network informally over refreshments and snacks. 

Find out more at: https://renewable-materials.eu and https://renewable-carbon.eu/news/strong-interest-in-renewable-materials-record-conference-attendance-and-three-winners-of-the-renewable-material-of-the-year-2023-innovation-award/

4) RCI-Webinar with a focus on recent activities and positions of the RCI

The next RCI webinar will be held on 21 June 2023 from 14:00 to 15:30 CEST, explaining the renewable carbon concept, the Renewable Carbon Initiative, and focusing on recent activities and positions of the RCI. 

Find out more at: https://renewable-carbon-initiative.com/events

5) Welcoming our newest RCI member

Fibenol (EE) produces novel biomaterials at its demonstration plant in Imavere, Estonia. Fibenol is using cutting-edge processes to develop a new generation of sugars, high purity hydrolysis lignin, and unique microcrystalline cellulose from hardwood. Its work is enabling a new era of biomaterials and bioproducts, helping industries do more with less.

Source

RCI, press release, 2023-05-26.

Supplier

ArcelorMittal
COLIPI Biotech
European Commission
Fibenol
KUORI Materials
nova-Institut GmbH
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI)
traceless materials GmbH

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