{"id":29348,"date":"2015-10-15T07:04:30","date_gmt":"2015-10-15T05:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/?p=29348"},"modified":"2015-10-13T15:43:25","modified_gmt":"2015-10-13T13:43:25","slug":"an-interview-with-cefic-and-evonik-on-the-future-for-biobased-and-chemistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/an-interview-with-cefic-and-evonik-on-the-future-for-biobased-and-chemistry\/","title":{"rendered":"An interview with CEFIC and Evonik on the future for biobased and chemistry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some companies within the EU chemicals industry sector have been wary of considering a shift towards biobased. Do you see this approach changing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

PB: The chemical industry regards the developments in the bio-based economy as one of the opportunities for innovation towards more sustainable products.\u00a0 We have to be careful that \u201cbio-based\u201d is not per definition more sustainable than \u201cfossil-based\u201d: there needs to be an evaluation of the sustainability of the chemical industry\u2019s products and processes based on complete LCA analyses and taking into account the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic and social).\u00a0 Considering bio-based feedstocks is a priority for the chemical industry but it is on an equal footing with fossil-based feedstocks.\u00a0 Different companies operating in different segments of the industry, in different value chains, with different products, may draw different conclusions with regard to the most suitable feedstock.\u00a0 If you consider the chemical industry globally, the bioeconomy is taken quite seriously.\u00a0 It is an opportunity that the chemical industry must consider in addition to\u00a0 other\u00a0 available options to optimize its development. A study made by Cefic in 2014 indicated that close to 10% of the total carbon-containing feedstock used by the European chemical industry today already has a bio-based origin.\u00a0 It will grow but developing a new process or changing an existing process in the chemical industry takes time.<\/p>\n

HG: In my view, currently most of the major chemicals companies recognize the innovative potential of the feedstock shift for the development of novel chemicals and efficient production processes. Furthermore, the chemicals industry realizes that bio-based raw materials can make a significant contribution to the reduction of the environmental footprint.<\/p>\n

What would help more of the EU chemicals industry increase their market share of renewable feedstocks?\u00a0 What measures do you think are most needed to encourage this trend?<\/strong><\/p>\n

PB: The chemical industry is capital intensive and has long term investments.\u00a0 When it comes to feedstocks, we need a reliable and sustainable supply of raw materials at competitive prices and we need a stable, coherent and predictable policy framework.\u00a0 We need a level playing field for all possible uses of biomass.\u00a0 If you can rely on a stable environment you can make decisions for long term investments.<\/p>\n

HG: Bio-based intermediates and building blocks in particular need to meet increasingly demanding cost requirements. Access to competitively priced renewable feedstocks is key for a growing market share.
\nRegarding market-pull measures, developing standards and evaluating green public procurement are well on the way. Consistent labeling and increasing public awareness of the benefits of bio-based products could be further potent tools to encourage customer demand. Furthermore, a stable, coherent, and predictable regulatory framework is required to retain activities in bio-based chemicals in Europe.<\/p>\n

What is the most significant development that you have noted in the field of biobased industries in the last year?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HG: Certain developments indicate that the bio-based industry is preparing for larger volumes.
\nHere are two recent examples:<\/p>\n