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  • Newrci scientific background report: case studies baed on peer reviewed life cycle assessments – carbon footprints of different carbon based chemicals and materials (pdf)

    RCI Scientific Background Report: Case Studies Based on Peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessments – Carbon Footprints of Different Carbon-based Chemicals and Materials (PDF)

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    Sustainability & Health

    39 Pages
    495 Downloads

    2023-11

    FREE

     

    In this brochure, the RCI (https://renewable-carbon-initiative.com) presents five 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 external experts. The LCAs have been summarised by experts of nova-Institutes sustainability team.

    The case studies visualise that there are not only competitive materials and products made of renewable carbon already on the market, but that they also come with significantly lower carbon footprints ranging from 30–90%.

    A key aspect of replacing fossil carbon with renewable carbon is the gained circularity of carbon. The less additional fossil carbon is added to our above-ground cycle of atmosphere, biosphere and technosphere, the smaller will be the amount of carbon emissions that have to be balanced out with expensive atmospheric removal and underground storage of carbon.

    It is essential to recognise that the carbon footprint of renewable carbon-based materials is not automatically close to zero for two primary reasons:

    • Fossil energy in the value chain
    • Ongoing innovation and optimisation

    All in all, the here presented materials and products show reduced carbon footprints already today, which lowers the remaining emissions gap so that less CO2 needs to be removed from the atmosphere in the future. At the same time, these materials and products still have significant potential to further reduce emissions in the future.

  • rci position paper on comprehensive carbon management (pdf)

    RCI Position paper on Comprehensive Carbon Management (PDF)

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    Policy

    3 Pages
    180 Downloads

    2023-10

    FREE

     

    This position paper describes that our understanding that new thinking and terminology are required to achieve climate targets and secure a sustainable carbon supply

    Comprehensive carbon management goes beyond CO2 emissions, capture and long-term storage, to which it is often reduced to. It decouples the whole industry from fossil feedstock, eliminates the use of fossil carbon wherever possible and allocates renewable carbon (from biomass, CO2 and recycling) as efficiently and effectively as possible where carbon use is unavoidable. The aim is to achieve the lowest possible CO2 emissions, reducing the need for Carbon Dioxide Removal to achieve net zero, and to provide a secure supply of renewable carbon to all dependent industries such as chemicals and materials. Only when carbon is recognised as a raw material in carbon management strategies can truly sustainable carbon cycles be achieved. With a proper comprehensive carbon management, the carbon-reliant material and energy sectors will be defossilised and the remaining energy sector will be decarbonised. And only for the remaining share of truly unavoidable emissions, carbon dioxide removal and carbon capture and storage should come into play.

  • renewable carbon as a guiding principle for sustainable carbon cycles (pdf)

    Renewable Carbon as a Guiding Principle for Sustainable Carbon Cycles (Version 2023, PDF)

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    Policy, Sustainability & Health

    51 Pages
    372 Downloads

    2023-09

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    Why It Is Right and Necessary To Choose Renewable Carbon as a Guiding Principle for Sustainable Development in the Chemicals and Materials Sectors

    The Scientific Background Report on “Renewable Carbon as a Guiding Principle for Sustainable Carbon Cycles – Why It Is Right and Necessary To Choose Renewable Carbon as a Guiding Principle for Sustainable Development in the Chemicals and Materials Sectors“ was RCI’s first major publication and forms the basis for the concept and strategy of the RCI. Together with input from all members, the RCI has worked on an updated version – In this second edition, the following main changes have been implemented:

    • New IPCC data on greenhouse gas emissions from the 6th Assessment Report (published March 2022) have been integrated.
    • To establish proper data baselines, entirely novel carbon flows data have been integrated.
    • The initial eleven policy recommendations were further sharpened, fine-tuned and concretised through lots of feedback from talks with politicians, NGOs, industrial actors, the bio-based, CO2-based and recycling sector, energy experts and many other stakeholders. Further political demands resulted from these discussions as well as recently published RCI position papers and consultations, which are now also integrated into the paper.

    To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change, the inflow of fossil carbon must be reduced quickly and in high volumes. The EU has started pushing for decarbonisation in energy and transport sectors, but has largely ignored chemical and material industries. These sectors require carbon-based feedstocks and cannot be “decarbonised,” so tackling embedded carbon in these industries is crucial. This paper proposes an approach to minimize environmental impact and maximize the reduction of GHG emissions.

  • the renewable carbon initiative’s position on the commission proposal for a green claims directive (gcd) – towards science based substantiation of claims and accurate biogenic carbon accounting (pdf)

    The Renewable Carbon Initiative’s position on the Commission Proposal for a Green Claims Directive (GCD) (PDF)

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    Policy

    3 Pages
    81 Downloads

    2023-09

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    Towards science-based substantiation of claims and accurate biogenic carbon accounting

    The Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) wholeheartedly endorses the Green Claims Directive’s (GCD) mission to provide consumers and businesses with reliable, comparable, and verifiable information to facilitate sustainable choices.

    In our position paper, we emphasise three aspects that, in our view, require additional attention to maximise the impact of the GCD and support products and solutions derived from non-fossil, renewable-carbon-based feedstock from biomass, CCU or recycling.

    1. Science-Based Life-Cycle Assessment Methodologies: RCI welcomes the acceptance of several life-cycle assessment methods for substantiating environmental claims but emphasises the practical importance of maintaining flexibility in the upcoming trilogue negotiations. We also call for clarification on how to determine if an environmental impact is considered “significant.”

    2. Differentiated Biogenic Carbon Accounting Methodology: The RCI advocates for enabling the possibility to better reflect uptake of atmospheric CO2 via biogenic carbon (and principally any process that captures CO2 from the atmosphere) in product assessments. In general, biogenic carbon in LCA is neither credited with carbon uptake through biomass at the beginning nor with the emissions (e.g. from incineration) at end of life. While this is from a proper LCA point-of-view valid and recommended, it leads to issues for stakeholders reporting their biogenic product’s carbon footprint at factory gate, because the uptake of atmospheric carbon cannot be shown and the conceptual advantage over fossil products gets lost. At the same time, we are aware of misleading “carbon negative” claims and argue that only full cradle-to-grave LCAs should qualify for such B2C claims.

    3. Ensuring a Reliable Verification Mechanism: Recognising the need for mandated verification of environmental claims before B2C communication, RCI acknowledges the potential challenges posed by these resource-intensive processes. We want to stress the importance of an effective approach and an extended transition period to enable authorities, verifiers, and the industry to smoothly adapt to these processes and mitigate potential delays in communicating claims for innovative products.
    tation.

  • 23 08 18 renewable carbon initiative (rci) manifesto for the next european commission (2024 2029) thumbnail

    Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) Manifesto for the next European Commission (2024-2029) (PDF)

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    Policy

    3 Pages
    171 Downloads

    2023-08

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    The RCI Manifesto highlights key issues for the new European Commission (2024 – 2029) to take up and focus on.

    The key messages are:

    1. Ensure that carbon embedded in chemicals and materials is given more political attention as an important factor for material-related emissions. Renewable carbon derived from biomass, direct CO2 utilisation, and recycling must become a guiding principle for policies and targets regulating chemicals and materials.
    2. Make a stepwise phaseout of fossil carbon from below the ground for chemicals and materials by 2050 an explicit objective.
    3. Translate the 20% non-fossil carbon target for chemicals and plastics by 2030 from the Sustainable Carbon Cycles Communication into binding legislation and ensure implementation through concrete policy measures.
    4. Establish a ‘Carbon Management Regulation’ to incentivise companies to replace fossil carbon from below the ground with renewable alternatives.
    5. Promote bio- and CO2-based[1] or -attributed content in parallel to recycled content in product-related regulation.
    6. Deploy Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) as a key strategic net-zero technology to provide sustainable and circular carbon.
    7. Support the transformation of existing chemical infrastructure from fossil to renewable carbon and support the transformation of biofuels plants into chemical suppliers without discriminating against existing production from renewable feedstock (including primary biomass).

    [1] The use of the term CCU generally refers to the utilisation of carbon dioxide (CO2), but can also include industrial carbon monoxide (CO) sources prior to flaring or other conversions to CO2 before release to the atmosphere. In the US, CO2 and CO are grouped together as “carbon oxides” for purposes of Section 45Q CCUS tax credits. In this report, “CO2 utilisation” is meant to also include other carbon oxides.

     

    Call for Signature

    The RCI manifesto outlines 7 core recommendations directed towards the forthcoming European Commission, aimed at translating the vision of ending the use of fossil feedstock into reality.

    Voice your support for the RCI manifesto for the next European Commission (2024–2029) now!

     

     

  • 23 07 12 making a case for ccu shop

    Making a Case for Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) – It is Much More Than Just a Carbon Removal Technology (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    48 Pages
    993 Downloads

    2023-07

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    This scientific background paper highlights the importance of Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) and the need for more political recoginition and support for CCU.

    CCU enables the substitution of fossil carbon in sectors where carbon is necessary, supports the full defossilisation of the chemical and derived material industries, creates a circular economy, reduces the emission gap, promotes sustainable carbon cycles, fosters innovation, generates local value and stimulates job growth.

    CCU is much more than a carbon removal technology: the technology offers multiple solutions to pressing problems of our modern world and can support several Sustainable Development Goals if implemented properly.

    In total, 14 different benefits and advantages of CCU are described and discussed in the paper. A key advantage is that CCU supplies renewable carbon to – and thereby substitutes fossil carbon in – sectors that will require carbon in the long run. This includes the chemical sectors and products like polymers, plastics, solvents, paints, detergents, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals. But CCU is also essential to a long-term net-zero strategy, crucial for creating a sustainable circular economy, providing solutions for scaling up the renewable energy system, and bringing multiple benefits for innovation and business.

    The relevance of the technology is not yet accepted in Europe, but the RCI wants to make a very clear statement: CCU is a central pillar for the biggest transformation of the chemical and material industry since the industrial revolution.

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/VYKR3129

  • RCI Policy Messages - Cover

    RCI Key Policy Messages (PDF)

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    Policy

    3 Pages
    130 Downloads

    2023-07

    FREE

     

    This short document contains seven key policy messages the RCI advocates for to shape the future of the chemical and material industry. These seven messages are:

    1. Renewable carbon and comprehensive carbon management need to become integral guiding principles of policies to achieve truly sustainable carbon cycles.
    2. Adopt a precise definition of “non-fossil, sustainable” carbon and then adopt a legally binding target for 20% sustainable, non-virgin-fossil carbon content
    3. Suitable measures to support the 20% goal would be
      1. material- and product focused policies that promote all three renewable carbon sources,
      2. CCU receiving at least the same support as CCS and
      3. recognition and promotion of chemical recycling technologies
    4. Support the transformation of existing chemical infrastructure from fossil to renewable carbon and support the transformation of biofuels plants into chemical suppliers
    5. Support the massive expansion of renewable energies
    6. Develop standards, certificates and labels for renewable carbon
    7. Phase out financial support, tax advantages and tax exemptions for fossil feedstocks
  • 23 06 13 cover food paper short version thumbnail

    RCI Paper on „The Use of Food and Feed Crops for Bio-based Materials and the Related Effects on Food Security“ – Short Version (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    2 Pages
    295 Downloads

    2023-11

    FREE

     

    Promoting Evidence-based Debates and Recognising Potential Benefits

    This short version of the scientific paper highlights on two pages new insights into a hotly debated topic and urges for careful and evidence-based debates.

    The paper aims to show that the well-known biomass debate is flawed, subjective and not fully based on evidence. What is detrimental to food security are, according to the World Food Programme in 2023, climate change, conflict, extreme inequalities in wealth distribution, heavy dependence on food imports from industrial countries, overconsumption of meat, losses along the value chain and the impact of the COVID pandemic. Competition between biomass uses is not mentioned among the relevant causes.

    The use of biomass for industrial applications, does have the potential to replace fossil feedstocks and thus contribute to the urgently needed reduction of fossil carbon emissions into our atmosphere to mitigate climate change.

    While not denying the dire need to combat world hunger, the authors of the paper argue that using food and feed crops for chemicals and materials will not necessarily exacerbate food insecurity, and in fact has the potential to cause multiple benefits for local and global food security, climate mitigation and other factors:

    1. The climate wins – Bio-based materials are part of the solution to achieve climate change mitigation.
    2. Land productivity wins – The competition between applications is not for the type of crop grown, but for the land.
    3. The environment wins – due to increased resource efficiency and productivity of food and feed crops.
    4. Farmers win – because they have more options for selling stock to different markets.
    5. Market stability wins – due to increased global availability of food and feed crops.
    6. Feed security wins – due to the high value of the protein-rich co-products of food and feed crops.
    7. Food security wins – due to the increased overall availability of edible crops that can be stored and flexibly distributed.
  • Select
    licence    23 04 13 carbon dioxide (co2) as feedstock for chemicals cover shop

    Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) as Feedstock for Chemicals, Advanced Fuels, Polymers, Proteins and Minerals (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Technology

    242 Pages

    2023-04

    2,500 € – 10,000 € ex. tax

    Plus 19% MwSt.
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    New report on the use of CO₂ for chemicals, advanced fuels, polymers, proteins and minerals by nova-Institute – A deep and comprehensive insight into the evolving technologies, trends and the dynamically growing market of CO₂ transformation and utilisation.
    Several successfully implemented technologies are now in commercial use, and many more are at the laboratory and pilot stage. A current total production capacity of novel CO₂-based products of about 1.3 Mt/a in 2022 is observed. The production capacity in 2022 is dominated by the production of CO₂-based aromatic polycarbonates, ethanol from captured CO/CO₂, aliphatic polycarbonate and methanol. By 2030, the capacity outlook for CO₂-based products is expected to exceed 6 Mt/a of CO₂-based products. High dynamic growth is observed for methanol projects, methane plants, ethanol and hydrocarbons – the latter especially for the aviation sector. The potential of CCU has been recognised by several global brands which are already expanding their feedstock portfolio. However, in Europe, investments and prospects for CO₂ utilisation are largely undermined by a lack of political support. In contrast, we see supportive policies in China as well as in the US with the Inflation Reduction Act. Such smart policies are needed to bridge the gap between now and 2050 for companies to remain competitive in the sustainable transformation.

    nova-Institute’s new report examines this renewable carbon source in detail: Which products can be made from CO₂, and by which processes? To which extend have the technologies already been developed and implemented in pilot, demonstration and commercial plants? Which companies are working on technologies to uses CO₂ as a feedstock? What are the trends in CO₂ utilisation in the coming years?

    This report addresses the fuel, chemical and materials industries, brands, technology scouts, investors, and policy makers. The report provides 240 pages of information on CO₂ utilisation. All the 116 companies mentioned are described in detailed profiles.

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/HKBS8158

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    licence    Cover - Bio-based Building Blocks and Polymers - Global Capacities, Production and Trends 2022-2027

    Bio-based Building Blocks and Polymers – Global Capacities, Production and Trends 2022-2027 (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy

    387 Pages

    2023-02

    3,000 € – 10,000 € ex. tax

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    Report on the global bio-based polymer market 2022 – A deep and comprehensive insight into this dynamically growing market

    The year 2022 was a promising year for bio-based polymers: Bio-based epoxy resin production is on the rise, PTT regained attractiveness after several years of constant capacities and PE and PP made from bio-based naphtha are being further established with growing volumes. Increased capacities for PLA are ongoing, after being sold out in 2019. Current and future expansions for bio-based polyamides as well as PHAs are on the horizon. And also, bio-based PET is getting back in the game.

     

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/CMZD8323

  • 23 03 06 company profile nova institute shop

    nova-Institute: Science-based Consultancy on Renewable Carbon for Chemicals and Materials (PDF)

    6 Pages
    172 Downloads

    2023-11

    FREE

     
  • overview of ccu / sdg assessment (png)

    Overview of CCU / SDG Assessment (PNG)

    Policy, Sustainability & Health

    1 Page
    56 Downloads

    2023-10

    FREE

     
  • joint letter: carbon capture and utilisation (ccu) should be recognised as a strategic net zero technology in the eu net zero industry act (pdf)

    Joint Letter: Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) should be recognised as a Strategic Net Zero Technology in the EU Net Zero Industry Act (PDF)

    Policy

    2 Pages
    18 Downloads

    2023-10

    FREE

     

    A co-signed letter with CO2 Value Europe, Cefic – European Chemical Industry Council, the European Cement Association (CEMBUREAU), The Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP), UPEI – the Voice of Europe’s Independent Fuel Suppliers, eFuel Alliance, Eurogas, The European Steel Association (EUROFER), FuelsEurope, Methanol Institute and the European Confederation of Fuel Distributors (ECFD) that calls on Members of the EU Parliament and EU Member States to take position to include CCU technologies as part – along with CCS – of the list of strategic net-zero technologies in the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA).

     

  • bio based polymers & plastics production 2022 worldwide (png)

    Bio-based Polymers & Plastics Production 2022 Worldwide (PNG)

    Markets & Economy

    1 Page
    196 Downloads

    2023-10

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  • bio based polymers & plastics production 2022 eu27+3 (png)

    Bio-based Polymers & Plastics Production 2022 EU27+3 (PNG)

    Markets & Economy

    1 Page
    120 Downloads

    2023-10

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  • renewable carbon initiative (rci) webinar slides – june 2023 (pdf)

    Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) Webinar slides – September 2023 (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    57 Pages
    1017 Downloads

    2023-09

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    This document contains a general slide set to introduce the concept of renewable carbon and the Renewable Carbon Initiative. It contains several visualisations on carbon demand today and in the future, the value chain of chemical production, alignment with the circular economy and other political strategies (e.g. Green Deal, ReNEW EU), policy recommendations, RCI member overview and RCI activities. Version from September 2023.

    More information at https://renewable-carbon-initiative.com/media/library

  • "bio and co2 based economy: feedstocks, processes and products" − graphic – update

    “Bio- and CO2-based Economy: feedstocks, processes and products” − Graphic – Update

    Markets & Economy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    2759 Downloads

    2023-09

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  • consumption of embedded carbon for global chemicals and derived materials by end user application tn

    Consumption of Embedded Carbon for Global Chemicals and Derived Materials by End-user Application (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy

    1 Page
    62 Downloads

    2023-07

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    Figure from the RCI Carbon Flows Report 2023

  • consumption of embedded carbon for global polymers tn

    Consumption of Embedded Carbon for Global Chemicals and Derived Materials by Carbon Feedstock (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy

    1 Page
    60 Downloads

    2023-07

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    Figure from the RCI Carbon Flows Report 2023

  • 23 06 19 fig 01 06 consumption of embedded carbon for global polymers

    Consumption of Embedded Carbon for Global Polymers (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy

    1 Page
    65 Downloads

    2023-07

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    Figure from the RCI Carbon Flows Report 2023