Let’s take a look at what happened in November 2023 at RCI:
1) Publication of RCI’s Scientific Background Report on “Case Studies based on peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessments – Carbon Footprints of different carbon-based chemicals and materials.
The RCI brochure presents five already existing peer-reviewed LCA case studies – representing the highest possible scientific standard – that examine the carbon footprint of materials and products made from renewable carbon. These case studies are on products from RCI member companies Avantium (NL), BASF (DE), IFF (US), Lenzing (AT), Neste (FI) and all LCAs have been peer-reviewed by independent experts. The LCAs have been summarised by experts of nova-Institutes sustainability team and show 30-90% lower carbon footprints compared to fossil alternatives.
LCAs are worldwide recognised the gold standard for assessing the environmental impacts of products and services. They analyse every stage of a product’s life, providing a comprehensive understanding of their environmental impacts. Peer-reviewed LCAs are particularly valuable as they undergo rigorous expert scrutiny, ensuring the reliability of their findings and enabling reliable public assertions in terms of environmental preference.
In the face of Code Red climate warnings, we have decided to focus on the carbon footprint and the critical shift towards defossilisation in carbon-dependent industries to offer a clear perspective on the potential climate benefits of renewable carbon-based materials over fossil alternatives.
Find the full paper at: https://renewable-carbon.eu/publications/product/rci-scientific-background-report-2023/
2) The RCI is partner of the „Advanced Recycling Conference 2023“, 28–29 November 2023 in Cologne (and hybrid), hosted by nova-Institute: https://advanced-recycling.eu/
At the Advanced Recycling Conference, 295 participants (30% more than last year) from 26 countries heard 35 international top experts on the latest highlights on advanced recycling technologies and renewable chemicals, building blocks, monomers and polymers based on recycling.
Topics included all chemical and physical recycling technologies, such as pyrolysis, gasification, depolymerisation and dissolution, as well as emerging technologies. In addition to technologies, policy frameworks, legislation, capacity growth and market trends were presented and discussed. Europe is still the hot spot for new developments, but only an appropriate policy framework will ensure implementation on a large scale.
The entire value chain from plastic waste/feedstock, technology providers, manufacturers to brand owners and investors were present, ensuring successful networking.
With the upcoming recycling quotas set by the EU, as well as quotas for mandatory recycled content for specific products, advanced recycling reaches far beyond the plastic packaging sector. In consequence, RCI scenarios foresee 55% of renewable carbon to come from recycling until 2050.
The two days were packed full of deep insights, latest technologies and plenty opportunity for networking. We were pleased to see some familiar faces from the RCI in person of Greg Archer from LanzaTech and Søren Kristiansen from the LEGO Group.
3) Ambassador Activities
Greener Manufacturing Show
On 9 November the RCI attended the Greener Manufacturing Show in Cologne.
1st Circular Carbon Summit in Vienna
On 15 November the RCI presented at the “1st Circular Carbon Summit” in Vienna.
UBA Austria and Austrian climate ministry (BMK)
On 20 November RCI participated in a networking event of UBA Austria and Austrian climate ministry (BMK) in Vienna, on bioeconomy and green chemistry, including actors from policy, administration, research and business.
OECD
On 27 November, RCI had an exchange of views with representatives of the OECD on carbon management, which is very much in line with RCI’s thinking. The OECD has been working for about 3 years on a report now entitled “Carbon Management: Bioeconomy and Beyond”.
COP28
The Dutch government has invited the RCI to a side event panel discussion at COP 28 in Dubai from 30 November to 1 December 2023 to discuss and debate the need for sustainable carbon. The panel included the Vice President and Regional Director Europe of the World Resources Institute, the CEO of Cefic and the Global Head of Sustainability of Braskem.
The aim and purpose of this panel was to gain further support for a ‘European Sustainable Carbon Package’ to be proposed by the Dutch to the next Commission. RCI believes that if the Dutch can join forces with other Member States and gain enough support, this could be a potential opportunity to move RCI’s issue higher up the European agenda.
Source
Renewable Carbon Initiative, press release, 2023-11.
Supplier
European Union
LanzaTech Ltd.
LEGO Group
nova-Institut GmbH
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI)
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