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4 Covers bio-based & CO₂-based polymers
as well as chemical recycling
 bio based background Data for 2023:
24 06 10 slider publications bio based cover Report on Bio-based
Building Blocks and
Polymers
More details Advanced Recycling Figure 24 06 10 slider publications advanced recycling cover Report on
Advanced Plastic
Waste Recycling
Technologies

More details 22 07 06 blau weiss pha 22 07 06 pha cover More details Report on
The PHA Industry
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  • Newpolicy proposals for facilitating the transition to renewable carbon (pdf)

    RCI Policy Proposals for Facilitating the Transition to Renewable Carbon (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology


    213 Downloads

    2025-04

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    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. Key enablers include harmonised standards, robust certification, infrastructure development, and stakeholder engagement.

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/DZRU4577

     

     

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    licence    bio based building blocks and polymers – global capacities, production and trends 2024–2029 (pdf)

    Bio-based Building Blocks and Polymers – Global Capacities, Production and Trends 2024–2029 (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy

    434 Pages

    2025-03

    3,000 € – 10,000 € ex. tax

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    2024 was a respectable year for bio-based polymers, with an overall expected CAGR of 13 % to 2029. Overall, bio-based biodegradable polymers have large installed capacities with an expected CAGR of 17 % to 2029, but the current average capacity utilisation is moderate at 65 %. In contrast, bio-based non-biodegradable polymers have a much higher utilisation rate of 90 %, but will only grow by 10 % to 2029.

    Epoxy resin and PUR production is growing moderately at 9 and 8 %, respectively, while PP and cyclic APC capacities are increasing by 30 %. Despite a decline in production of biodegradables, especially for PLA in Asia, capacities have increased by 40 %. The same applies to PHA capacities. Commercial newcomers such as casein polymers and PEF recorded a rise in production capacity and are expected to continue to grow significantly until 2029.

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/UMTR4695

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    Bio-based Building Blocks and Polymers Global Capacities, Production and Trends 2024–2029 – Short Version (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy

    28 Pages
    451 Downloads

    2025-03

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    2024 was a respectable year for bio-based polymers, with an overall expected CAGR of 13 % to 2029. Overall, bio-based biodegradable polymers have large installed capacities with an expected CAGR of 17 % to 2029, but the current average capacity utilisation is moderate at 65 %. In contrast, bio-based non-biodegradable polymers have a much higher utilisation rate of 90 %, but will only grow by 10 % to 2029.

    Epoxy resin and PUR production is growing moderately at 9 and 8 %, respectively, while PP and cyclic APC capacities are increasing by 30 %. Despite a decline in production of biodegradables, especially for PLA in Asia, capacities have increased by 40 %. The same applies to PHA capacities. Commercial newcomers such as casein polymers and PEF recorded a rise in production capacity and are expected to continue to grow significantly until 2029.

  • evaluating lca approaches and methodologies for renewable carbon sources report 3 of 3 – non technical summary (march 2025)

    Evaluating LCA Approaches and Methodologies for Renewable Carbon Sources Report 3 of 3 – Non-technical Summary (March 2025) (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    15 Pages
    399 Downloads

    2025-03

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    This Non-technical Summary (15 pages),highlights main insights into the project results and states key take-aways for policy-makers.

    It compares several frameworks, such as ISO 14040, Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), and GHG Protocol, finding both commonalities and critical differences in areas like biogenic carbon accounting and recycling assessment. The study identifies significant methodological flexibility in existing frameworks, leading to inconsistencies in LCA results and challenges in standardisation. Key issues include differing treatment of carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), direct air capture (DAC), and allocation of environmental burdens in multifunctional processes. Policy recommendations emphasise the need for harmonisation, improved biogenic carbon accounting, and clear guidance on emerging technologies like DAC and mass balance attribution. Overall, the study calls for refining LCA methodologies to ensure fair comparison between renewable and fossil-based carbon solutions.

    This report is the third report of a larger RCI project on LCA methodology, which includes two additional publications:

    Report 1 of 3 – Renewable Carbon in LCA Guidelines
    Report 2 of 3 – Renewable Carbon in Recycling Situations

    Please find these additional reports by following the respective links at the bottom of this page.

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/ZEKY1803

  • evaluating lca approaches and methodologies for renewable carbon sources report 2 of 3 – renewable carbon in recycling situations (march 2025) (pdf)

    Evaluating LCA Approaches and Methodologies for Renewable Carbon Sources Report 2 of 3 – Renewable Carbon in Recycling Situations (March 2025) (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    37 Pages
    284 Downloads

    2025-03

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    This report focuses on renewable carbon in recycling scenarios and the key challenges in LCA and carbon footprint assessments. It examines system boundaries, allocation methods, and biogenic carbon accounting approaches, highlighting their influence on sustainability evaluations. The report emphasises the cut-off and avoided-burden approaches for recycling while recommending the -1/+1 method for biogenic carbon transparency. However, it also identifies contradictions between LCA results and broader sustainability goals, such as the EU waste hierarchy, which prioritises recycling. To address these inconsistencies, the report suggests integrating LCA with additional sustainability metrics like land use and recyclability. Ultimately, refining these methodologies will enhance the accuracy and reliability of environmental assessments for bio-based and recycled materials.

    This report is the second report of a larger RCI project on LCA methodology, which includes two additional publications:

    Report 1 of 3 – Renewable Carbon in LCA Guidelines
    Report 3 of 3 – Non-technical Summary

    Please find these additional reports by following the respective links at the bottom of this page.

     

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/QTVU8642

  • evaluating lca approaches and methodologies for renewable carbon sources report 1 of 3 – renewable carbon in lca guidelines (march 2025) (pdf)

    Evaluating LCA Approaches and Methodologies for Renewable Carbon Sources Report 1 of 3 – Renewable Carbon in LCA Guidelines (March 2025) (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    145 Pages
    405 Downloads

    2025-03

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    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. One field with a particularly large methodological freedom is recycling.

    This report is the first report of a larger RCI project on LCA methodology, which includes two additional publications:

    Report 2 of 3 – Renewable Carbon in Recycling Situations
    Report 3 of 3 – Non-technical Summary

    Please find these additional reports by following the respective links at the bottom of this page.

     

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/VCYM7822

  • sustainable textiles the way forward (pdf)

    Sustainable textiles – the way forward (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Sustainability & Health

    6 Pages
    253 Downloads

    2025-02

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    High reliance on fossil carbon, associated high carbon footprint, low recycling rates and microplastics:
    Several solutions are emerging. The article analyses the evolution of the textile industry from 1960 to today, fossil and bio-based as well as recycling.
    The future of sustainable textiles
    The sustainable textile industry of the future will be built on a foundation of cotton fibres and fast-growing cellulose fibres, later strongly supported by bio- and CO2-based synthetic fibres (“biosynthetics”) and high recycling rates for all types of fibres. This combination can eventually replace most fossil-based synthetic fibres by 2050.
  • bio based polymers worldwide (pdf)

    Bio-based Polymers Worldwide (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    5 Pages
    402 Downloads

    2025-02

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    Expert insight into capacity developments, investments and new policy frameworks:
    • Firstly, global capacity for bio-based polymers will grow strongly over the next five years, much faster than for fossil-based polymers
    • Secondly, investments in new capacity will take place in China, Europe, the Middle East, and the US
    • Thirdly, investment in bio-based polymer capacities is mainly driven by policy frameworks that create demand.
  • is there enough biomass to defossilise the chemicals and derived materials sector by 2050? – a joint bic and rci scientific background report (pdf) (copy)

    Joint Webinar hosted by Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) (February 2025) (PDF)

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    Policy, Sustainability & Health

    51 Pages
    215 Downloads

    2025-02

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    The webinar was presented by Michael Carus (nova-Institute, RCI), supported by Christopher vom Berg (RCI), Dirk Carrez (BIC), and Marco Rupp (BIC). It was based on a Scientific Background Report “Is there enough biomass to defossilise the chemicals and derived materials sector by 2050?” commissioned by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI).

    It explored whether agricultural and woody biomass could sustainably meet 20% of the carbon demand for the chemical and derived materials sectors by 2050. Using models like CAPRI (for agriculture) and TiMBA (for forestry), the study examined different scenarios, balancing food, feed, and biofuel priorities. Results showed that with moderate technological advancements, this 20% target is achievable without compromising sustainability or biodiversity. Stronger high-tech scenarios could even provide up to 40%, though existing biofuel policies may limit this. Overall, the study concluded that biomass could play a key role in defossilising the chemical sector, given the right innovations and policy frameworks.

     

  • evaluation of recent reports on the future of a net zero chemical industry in 2050 (pdf) (copy)

    Is there Enough Biomass to Defossilise the Chemicals and Derived Materials Sector by 2050? – A Joint BIC and RCI Scientific Background Report (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    41 Pages
    1071 Downloads

    2025-02

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    This reports presents the findings of a joint project of the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), which focuses on whether agricultural and woody biomass combined sustainably provide enough biomass to meet 20% of the future carbon demand of the chemical and derived materials industries in 2050 (up from 5.5% (EU27) and 10% (global) in 2023).

    This leading question was investigated with professional experts to model a business-as-usual, a low resource depletion, and a high-tech scenario to better analyse the possible ranges of biomass availability under different developments.

    Agriculture: By 2050, under the BAU scenario, production is projected to increase by 31% to 5.07 billion tonnes. Cereals increase by 32% to 3.1 billion tonnes, sugar by 40% to 340 million tonnes and vegetable oils by 45% to 317 million tonnes. In the Green LRD scenarios, production is projected to increase by 24–26%, and in the Green HT scenarios by 38–53% – compared to 31% in the BAU scenario.

    Forestry: Global supply and demand of industrial roundwood (coniferous and non-coniferous) will increase by an estimated 38% between 2020 and 2050, from 0.9 to 1.3 billion tdm. The largest increase in supply is expected in Asia (69%), including China and Russia, but a significant increase of 32% is also seen for Europe.

    The report concludes that sustainably meeting 20% of total carbon demand of the chemicals and derived materials sector in 2050 via biomass seems a realistic and achievable estimate.

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/PIRL6916

  • nova paper #17: science based definition of natural polymers (pdf)

    nova-paper #17: Science-based Definition of Natural Polymers (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    22 Pages
    615 Downloads

    2024-09

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    European policy has defined „natural polymers“ in a way that has caused much concern and debate among scientists and industry, and has created a barrier to innovation. The authors of this report have carried out a comprehensive scientific evaluation of how the scientific literature defines „natural polymers“, and the result is: The European policy definition is partly in clear contrast to the scientific definitions.

    „Occurring in nature“ is the basis for every definition of „natural polymers“ in the scientific literature and in policy. All scientific definitions include biotechnological processes for the production of natural polymers. Not a single definition mentions the place of polymerisation as a criterion – in clear contrast to European policy. Industrial practice confirms this finding: A long list of widely accepted natural polymers includes biotechnologically processed polymers and the place of polymerisation is not a criterion.

    Conclusion: A policy definition of „natural polymers“ that is at odds with almost all scientific definitions and at odds with business reality, and which is a major barrier to innovation, green investment and lower carbon footprints, needs to be revised.
    The essence of the scientific definitions evaluated in this report is simple and leads to the following proposed definition: „Natural polymers are those that occur in nature, are produced in and extracted from nature, or can be produced identically using biotechnological processes“.

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/UGBZ5516

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    licence    alternative naphtha – technologies and market, status and outlook (pdf)

    Alternative Naphtha – Technologies and Market, Status and Outlook (PDF)

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    Markets & Economy, Technology

    188 Pages

    2024-07

    2,500 € – 9,000 € ex. tax

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    For the defossilisation of the chemical industry, it is crucial to find alternatives to fossil-based naphtha. The “alternative naphtha” concept makes use of existing refinery, steam cracking and chemical industry infrastructure where a proportion of fossil-based feedstocks – crude oil or fossil-based naphthas can be replaced by renewable carbon alternatives derived from the three sources of renewable carbon: CO2, biomass and recycling.

    This new report by nova-Institute presents an analysis of the routes, associated technologies, market players and volumes by which renewable carbon can be introduced to refinery and steam cracking operations as replacement for fossil based feedstocks.

    With 188 pages, 22 tables and illustrated by 48 graphics the report provides a comprehensive view on the growth in capacity for these alternative sources of naphtha as chemical industry feedstock, production routes and the need for “upgrading”, key companies and partnerships and the regulatory environment.

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/JICP8041

  • Newoverview of rcis policy proposals (png)

    Overview of RCIs Policy Proposals (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

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    3 Downloads

    2025-04

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  • Newrenewable energy and defossilisation (png)

    Renewable Energy and Defossilisation (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    2 Downloads

    2025-04

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  • Newtrackling the european implementation gap for renewable carbon solutions (png)

    Trackling the European Implementation Gap for Renewable Carbon Solutions (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

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    2 Downloads

    2025-04

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  • More
    info    Newbiomassepotenziale rheinisches revier (pdf)

    Biomassepotenziale Rheinisches Revier (PDF)

    Policy, Sustainability & Health

    2025-04

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    Das Rheinische Revier soll im Zuge des Kohleausstiegs zu einer „Modellregion Bioökonomie“ entwickelt werden. Der dadurch steigende Biomassebedarf könnte negative Auswertungen haben und muss daher gründlich untersucht werden. Aus diesem Grund hat das LANUV mit Unterstützung des nova-Instituts im Zeitraum vom 01.03.2023 bis 28.02.2025 das Projekt „Biomassepotenziale Rheinisches Revier“ durchgeführt. Ziel des Projekts war es, Grundlagen und Instrumente zu schaffen, um zu einer nachhaltigen Nutzung von Biomasse aus der Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft in der Region beizutragen.

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    Cellulose Fibres Conference 2025 (Proceedings, PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    2025-03

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    The Cellulose Fibres Conference 2025 – New with Biosynthetics! (https://cellulose-fibres.eu, 12-13 March 2025, Cologne, hybrid) covered the entire value chain of the sustainable textile industry, from lignocellulose, pulp, cellulose fibres such as rayon, viscose, modal or lyocell and new developments to a wide range of applications:
    Textiles from renewable fibres, non-wovens such as wet wipes, as well as areas such as composites, hygiene, packaging or nano cellulose in the food industry. This year, for the first time, the conference included a dedicated session on biosynthetics – a promising area to complement the alternative for bio-based textiles. Deep insights have been offered into the future of cellulose fibres, which fits perfectly with the current shift towards circular economy, recycling and sustainable carbon cycles.

    The Cellulose Fibres Conference Proceedings include all released conference presentations, the conference journal, sponsor documents and the conference press release.

  • schematic differentiation of pathways of drop in (png) (copy)

    Shares of the Produced Bio-based Polymers in Different Market Segments in 2024 (PNG)

    Markets & Economy

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    39 Downloads

    2025-03

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  • bio based polymer capacities and production worldwide 2024 (png) (copy)

    Bio-based Non Biodegradable Polymers Evolution of Worldwide Prod Capacities 2029 (PNG)

    Markets & Economy

    1 Page
    17 Downloads

    2025-03

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  • bio based biodegradable polymers evolution of worldwide production capacities 2029 (png)

    Bio-based Biodegradable Polymers Evolution of Worldwide Production Capacities 2029 (PNG)

    Markets & Economy

    1 Page
    22 Downloads

    2025-03

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