The top 10 most-read nova and RCI reports of the last 12 monthsNo 1: Bio-based Building Blocks and Polymers – Global Capacities, Production and Trends 2025–2030 – nova Report 2025
This report is the global reference for bio-based polymer production and capacity. The data from Plastics Europe and European Bioplastics are based on the yearly update from nova. The report shows market development for 17 bio-based building blocks and 17 bio-based polymers, the latest data up to 2025, and a forecast based on expert and producer data up to 2030. Until 2025, nova published a free short version (like this one) and a commercial long version of over 450 pages. In 2026, we did not publish the long version because most companies preferred an in-house workshop to a long publication. If you require access to the full or specific data, please book a workshop here: michael.carus@nova-institut.de.
Another option is to: On the second day of the Renewable Materials Conference (22–24 September 2026), Michael Carus (nova) will give a presentation on global bio-based polymer production and capacity.
Find the full programme here: https://renewable-materials.eu/program
No 2: Benefits of Using First-Generation Biomass for Food, Fuels, Chemicals and Derived Materials in Europe – nova Report 2025
The question of whether or not food and feed crops should be used as raw materials for industry has been the subject of heated debate for years. There are fears that this could jeopardise food security.
The study, which has attracted considerable attention in industry and politics, examines the use of these so-called first-generation crops in greater detail and even identifies numerous advantages to their use compared with second-generation crops. These include, in particular: land efficiency, protein-rich by-products and, most importantly, a food emergency reserve.
On the first day of the Renewable Materials Conference (22–24 September 2026), Michael Carus (nova) and Peter Leonhardt (Cargill) will give a presentation on „Primary Biomass for Chemistry & Key Enabler of Europe’s Circular Bioeconomy Through Integrated Biorefineries“.
Find the full programme here: https://renewable-materials.eu/program
No 3: Case Studies Based on Peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessments: Carbon Footprints of Different Renewable Carbon-Based Chemicals and Materials (2nd, Extended Version) – RCI Report 2026
This report broadens the scope of the first report “Case studies based on peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessments – Carbon Footprints of Different Carbon-Based Chemicals and Materials”, published in November 2023. The initial brochure presented five peer-reviewed studies that drew strong interest from experts, policymakers, and industry leaders for their insights into the carbon footprints of various carbon-based chemicals and materials. This second, extended version includes seven peer-reviewed LCAs from participating member companies: Braskem, Econic, Fibenol, LanzaTech, Lenzing (update), Peter Greven and Primient Covation.
These expanded contributions will deepen understanding of carbon footprints and further support RCI’s commitment to data-driven sustainability.
No 4: Increased Methane Emissions in Crude Oil and Natural Gas Supply: Implications for the Carbon Footprint of Petrochemicals – RCI Report 2025
This scientific background report by RCI shows that recent updates to leading LCI databases (ecoinvent 3.9–3.11) reveal a major underestimation of methane emissions from oil and gas supply chains. For instance, IEA now reports oil-related methane emissions up to 15 times higher than IOGP, with extreme differences for Russia (10-fold) and Saudi Arabia (40-fold). These revisions sharply increase the carbon footprint of fossil feedstocks, with naphtha nearly tenfold higher and significant rises for ethylene, propylene, and ethylene glycol. As a consequence, plastics such as PE, PP, and PET show 20–30% higher footprints. By contrast, renewable carbon alternatives gain ground: bio-based plastics now appear 12–27% more climate-friendly, with even greater advantages when biogenic carbon uptake is included.
No 5: Policy Proposals for Facilitating the Transition to Renewable Carbon – RCI Report 2025
The report outlines a strategic roadmap for transforming Europe’s chemical industry by transitioning from fossil-based to renewable carbon sources. It highlights the industry’s current crisis which is driven by global competition, high energy costs, and regulatory pressure, and stresses the urgency of reducing dependence on fossil feedstocks. The report aruges that the transition to renewable carbon is not just about environmental sustainability; it is about securing Europe’s industrial future and maintaining its global competitiveness in a rapidly changing world. By pioneering renewable carbon technologies, the EU can unlock economic benefits and unleash its innovation potential while advancing climate neutrality ambitions.
The Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) proposes ten comprehensive policy measures including mandatory renewable carbon targets, adaptation of emissions trading systems, and financial support mechanisms. These proposals aim to create market demand, drive innovation and build industrial resilience.
No 6: PEF – A Circular Bio-Based Plastic with Improved Properties and Environmental Performance – nova/Avantium Report 2025
The chemical technology company Avantium (NL) partnered with nova-Institut GmbH under the framework of the PEFerence project, to perform a full cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for the YXY® Technology, assessing the potential environmental impacts of PEF packaging solutions in comparison to conventional PET packaging. The LCA is performed according to the ISO 14040/44 standard methodology. A critical peer review of the study, including experts of incumbent technologies, was conducted in order to verify whether the LCA met the requirements for methodology, data, interpretation, and reporting. This presentation from the 1st PEF World Congress summarises the main aspects about the environmental sustainability of PEF-based bottles.
No 7: Evaluating LCA Approaches and Methodologies for Renewable Carbon Sources Report 1 of 3: Renewable Carbon in LCA Guidelines – RCI Report 2025
Part 1: Renewable Carbon in LCA Guidelines (146 pages) evaluates methodological choices which impact LCAs for products containing renewable carbon in existing LCA frameworks and guidelines. The study specifically examines the similarities and differences in the methodological choices of guidelines, as well as the implications of these methodological aspects on the resulting LCA outcomes.The frameworks were selected based on their relevance and legitimacy in the industry, academia and policy field, and include: ISO 14040/44, ISO 14067, GHG Protocol Product Standard, PACT’s Pathfinder Framework, the PCF Guideline for the chemical industry by Together for Sustainability (TfS), EPD for the construction industry – ISO 14025 and EN 15804, the Renewable Energy Directive, the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and the JRC’s plastics LCA methodology.
Part 2: Renewable Carbon in Recycling Situations
Part 3: Non-technical Summary
On the first day of the Renewable Materials Conference (22–24 September 2026), Matthias Stramann (nova) and Ángel Puente (nova) will run a workshop on „Getting LCA Right for Renewable Carbon: Methodology Challenges in Recycling and CCU“.
Find the full workshop programme here: https://renewable-materials.eu/workshops/
No 8: Is there Enough Biomass to Defossilise the Chemicals and Derived Materials Sector by 2050? – A Joint BIC and RCI Scientific Background Report 2025
This study was a milestone in the evaluation of biomass availability for the chemical sector. It not only works with comprehensive assumptions and scenarios and the inclusion of many experts, but also with in-depth modelling that includes economic feedback loops. The main result is that the implementation of moderately high-tech agriculture could enable agricultural and woody biomass to cover 20–30% of the global chemical industry’s total demand by 2050 without compromising other sectors, such as food, feed, biofuels and bioenergy. A large proportion of this comes from first-generation crops, which are the only commodities with a high volume.
No 9: OK renewable Label – RCI, nova and TÜV Austria 2025
https://renewable-carbon.eu/publications/product/ok-renewable-label-pdf/
The OK renewable label is designed for the renewable carbon economy. It combines biomass, CO₂ and recycling shares in one label, even for segregated and mass balance content. The ranking illustrates industry interest in this new label. The presentation covers all the key aspects of the new certificate.
No 10: A Deep Dive into the Agriculture sector – „Is There Enough Biomass to Defossilise the Chemicals and Derived Materials Sector by 2050?“
This is a sub-report from No. 8, providing an in-depth analysis of the agricultural section and showing all the assumptions and calculations in detail. It is mainly intended for agricultural experts.
Source
nova-Institute, original text, 2026-09-02.
Supplier
Braskem
Cargill, Inc.
Econic Technologies Ltd.
European Bioplastics
Fibenol
IEA Bioenergy
LanzaTech Ltd.
nova-Institut GmbH
Plastics Europe
Primient Covation LLC
Renewable Carbon Initiative
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