Showing 1–20 of 425
-
Importance of mass balance and free attribution (MBFA) for the conversion of the chemical sector to alternative carbon sources (PDF)
Policy, Sustainability & Health
4 Pages
109 Downloads109 Downloads
2022-12
FREE
Free Shipping109
DownloadsThis position paper highlights the importance of mass balance and free attribution “MBFA” as one possible way to incentivise the transformation of the chemical sector away from fossil and on towards renewable carbon.
The term “mass balance” has become established to describe systems in which biomass, CO2 and secondary materials are used as a feedstock, but is not or not fully physically traced to the end product . It is common practice in many value chains in which large scale capacities are involved in one or more steps of the value chain that require mixing the sustainable with conventional material to fill the capacity. The approach makes it possible to substitute large quantities of fossil raw materials and attractive renewable content shares can be attributed to desired materials or products for which demand on the market exists. This incentivises a stepwise continuous transformation to increase the share of renewable carbon in particular for the large-scale chemical industry
However, the term “mass balance” is somewhat unfortunate because it is too general, and does not mention the essence of the method: the free attribution of the bio-based, CO2-based or chemically recycled share in the feedstock mix to certain selected end products.
The RCI recommends to only speak of “mass balance and free attribution (MBFA)” when talking about such cases, as this is how the complete method and its two central parts are referred to. This is transparent and honest, building trust from customers, end consumers and society in general. Both, mass balance and the free attribution are based on solid and established certifications.
Besides terminology, there is still a need for regulatory harmonisation between the schemes of the existing certification systems. MBFA cannot only be applied for bio-based feedstock, but also for CO/CO2 or feedstock from chemical recycling, both will gain strongly in importance in the coming years. Every MBFA scheme should cover these three renewable feedstocks: biomass, CO/CO2 and recycling.
-
Advanced Recycling Conference 2022 (Proceedings)
Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology
2022-11
150 €
Free Shipping
cartThe proceedings of the Advanced Recycling Conference 2022 (14-15 November 2022, hybrid, https://advanced-recycling.eu) contain conference presentations, the conference journal, sponsor documents and the press release.
-
Circular EconomyPLUS: Recommendations for action for a German Circular Economy Strategy
Policy
15 Pages
53 Downloads53 Downloads
2022-11
FREE
Free Shipping53
DownloadsA contribution to the discussion on a circular economy for plastics moderated by PlasticsEurope Deutschland e. V.
With the necessary transformation into a circular economy with plastics, the plastics industry is facing a far-reaching paradigm shift. Plastics Europe would like to drive this change forward. In the first half of 2022, as part of an initiative by Plastics Europe Deutschland, leading experts in the field of circular economy with plastics have developed recommendations for action for the German circular economy strategy announced in the latest coalition agreement in 2021 after intensive consultations. Plastics Europe Deutschland took the role of a moderator in this discussion process in order to guarantee recommendations for action on a technical and scientific basis.
With this paper we would like to initiate a discussion process and actively accompany the circular economy strategy and thus also the transformation path for our industry.
-
The Renewable Carbon Initiative’s position on the „Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles” (PDF)
Policy
7 Pages
294 Downloads294 Downloads
2022-11
FREE
Free Shipping294
DownloadsThe RCI, an interest group of leading companies and pioneers from the chemical and material sector, has a rich history of advocating for policies acknowledging the indispensable need of carbon in a broad range of chemical and material industries. The Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles, as published in December 2021, is a milestone in European policy as it acknowledges exactly this value of carbon as a feedstock and its unavoidability for certain sectors. The recently published position paper of the RCI highlights why this is an important step in the right direction and asks policy makers for effective follow-up.
-
The Renewable Carbon Initiative’s position on the draft “EU Policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics” (PDF)
Policy, Sustainability & Health
5 Pages
167 Downloads167 Downloads
2022-10
FREE
Free Shipping167
DownloadsThe Commission is currently preparing a “Policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics.” The framework was announced in the Circular Economy Action Plan and is part of the Plastics Strategy for Circular Economy. It aims at developing guidance on the “sourcing, labelling and use of bio-based plastics, based on assessing where the use of bio-based feedstock results in genuine environmental benefits, going beyond reduction in using fossil resources” and on the “use of biodegradable or compostable plastics, based on an assessment of the applications where such use can be beneficial to the environment, and of the criteria for such applications”. While publication is planned for late 2022, the Renewable Carbon Initiative took the opportunity to comment on the draft from summer 2022.
-
nova-Session “Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Science and Policy” (Proceedings)
Sustainability & Health
2022-10
150 €
Free Shipping
cartThe download of the proceedings contains all eight presentations.
This nova-Session (September 2022 and October 2022) discussed the important tool of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) – its scientific and methodological principles as well as practical implementation in political decision-making.
Assessing and comparing products’ environmental performances is a critical element in transforming our economic system towards sustainability and mitigating climate change. How else to make decisions as to which technologies, feedstocks or production systems are preferable?
LCA according to ISO 14040 has become the most widely accepted and applied method to provide information on products’ and companies’ environmental performance.
As a standardised tool it offers many advantages such as credibility and comparability.However, it also offers flexibility to cover a multitude of products, companies and processes. This has the advantage that it can be adapted to all kinds of circumstances, but it also reduces comparability and there is a certain danger of greenwashing. Therefore, higher comparability has been a goal of LCA method development for quite some time. Recently, policy also has been referring more and more to LCA to provide guidelines, support, incentives or permits. These need fixed values and comparable results – so the longer intended method development is imperative now. Accordingly, there have been increased efforts to build on the LCA method for political purposes and develop common assumptions, comparators and default values for product groups. Prominent examples are the calculation rules for biofuels, the discussions about the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), LCA calculations for bio-based plastics, GHG emissions of recycled plastics and for fuels made from CCU, discussions in the framework of the Taxonomy and more.
-
KreislaufwirtschaftPLUS: Handlungsempfehlungen für eine nationale Kreislaufwirtschaftsstrategie (PDF)
Policy
15 Pages
94 Downloads94 Downloads
2022-10
FREE
Free Shipping94
DownloadsEin Diskussionsbeitrag für eine Kreislaufwirtschaft mit Kunststoffen moderiert von PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V.
Mit der erforderlichen Transformation in eine Kreislaufwirtschaft mit Kunststoffen steht die Kunststoffbranche vor einem tiefgreifenden Paradigmenwechsel. Wir möchten diesen Wandel gerne vorantreiben. In der ersten Jahreshälfte 2022 haben im Rahmen einer Initiative von PlasticsEurope Deutschland e. V. ausgewiesene und führende Experten im Bereich der Kreislaufwirtschaft mit Kunststoffen in intensiven Beratungen Handlungsempfehlungen für die im Koalitionsvertrag angekündigte Nationale Kreislaufwirtschaftsstrategie erarbeitet. Plastics Europe Deutschland nahm in diesem Erörterungsprozess ausschließlich eine Moderatorenrolle ein, um Handlungsempfehlungen auf technisch-wissenschaftlicher Basis zu gewährleisten.
Mit diesem Papier möchten wir einen Diskussionsprozess anstoßen und die Kreislaufwirtschaftsstrategie und somit auch den Transformationspfad aktiv begleiten.
-
378 Downloads
2022-10
FREE
Free Shipping378
DownloadsThe new nova-Institute’s market report commissioned by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) shows macroeconomic effects of the European Bioeconomy in the period from 2008 to 2019. Using data from Eurostat and, where required, nova-Institute’s estimated bio-based shares, turnover and employment numbers of the bioeconomic sectors have been calculated. Even though the latest numbers no longer include the UK, the EU’s bioeconomy turnover remained stable, which has resulted in an increase of around 25% since 2008.
-
Overall turnover and employment of the bioeconomy and its bio-based industries in the EU-27 in 2019
Markets & Economy
1 Page
85 Downloads85 Downloads
2022-10
FREE
Free Shipping85
DownloadsThe new nova-Institute’s market report commissioned by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) shows macroeconomic effects of the European Bioeconomy in the period from 2008 to 2019. Using data from Eurostat and, where required, nova-Institute’s estimated bio-based shares, turnover and employment numbers of the bioeconomic sectors have been calculated. Even though the latest numbers no longer include the UK, the EU’s bioeconomy turnover remained stable, which has resulted in an increase of around 25% since 2008.
This graphic shows the overall turnover and employment of the bioeconomy and its bio-based industries in the EU-27 in 2019.
-
Life cycle stages of monolayer PEF bottles (PNG)
Sustainability & Health, Technology
1 Page
70 Downloads70 Downloads
2022-08
FREE
Free Shipping70
DownloadsThis figure shows the relevant life cycle stages of monolayer PEF bottles from cradle-to-grave: from the biomass cultivation (wheat for fructose and sugarcane for bio-MEG feedstocks supply) to the production of PEF-based bottles including their end-of-life options (recycling and incineration).
It is foreseen that the commercialisation of PEF-based products will initially take place in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. In these countries, the rates for average PET bottle waste collection and recycling are relatively high and landfilling is no longer practiced in these countries. -
Environmental impacts of 250 ml monolayer and PET/PEF multilayer bottles vs. their fossil counterparts (PNG)
Sustainability & Health, Technology
1 Page
71 Downloads71 Downloads
2022-08
FREE
Free Shipping71
DownloadsThis figure shows the climate change and resource use impact of PEF bottles versus PET bottles. nova-Institute’s peer-reviewed LCA evaluated 16 different impact categories covering all relevant life cycle stages from cradle-to-grave. The comparative analysis showed that PEF bottles would result in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (-33%) compared to reference PET bottles. PEF would also lead to 45 % lower finite resource consumption of fossil fuels and reduce the pressure on abiotic resources (minerals and metals) by 47% due to the mechanical properties of PEF enabling light-weighting.
However, PET bottles would outperform PEF-bottles in other impact categories mostly arising from the current feedstock supply. Overall, this represents a benefit because climate change and resource use are among the most relevant environmental impact categories in the current political agenda as they are driving the transition from fossil to renewable carbon. Included in the nova-Institute’s LCA were next to 100% PEF bottles also 250 ml PET/PEF multilayer bottles with 10% of PEF compared to reference PET/PA bottles with a typical 7% of PA. The analysis of the multilayer bottles showed that significant reductions of around 37% in GHG emissions could be achieved by replacing the PA layer with PEF, mainly attributed to the recyclability of the PET/PEF system over the non-recyclability of the PA containing system. This replacement would also contribute to a significant reduction of finite resources demand (36% and 52% for fossils and minerals and metals respectively).
-
PEF – A Sustainable Packaging Material for Bottles (PDF)
Sustainability & Health, Technology
14 Pages
258 Downloads258 Downloads
2022-08
FREE
Free Shipping258
DownloadsThe 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 brochure summarizes the main aspects about the environmental sustainability of PEF-based bottles.
-
134 Downloads
2022-08
FREE
Free Shipping134
DownloadsAvantium has developed a technology to convert plant-based sugars into FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the building block of PEF (polyethylene furanoate): a plant-based, fully recyclable polymer with superior performance. FDCA is polymerised with plant-based mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) to make a 100% plant-based PEF polymer. In December 2021, Avantium has taken a positive investment decision concerning the construction of the world’s first FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl (The Netherlands), with construction planned to be completed by the end of 2023 and the aim to be operational in 2024. This will be the world’s first commercial FDCA facility and will have a targeted production capacity of 5,000 tonnes per annum. FDCA is the key building block for the 100% plant-based, recyclable polymer PEF.
-
74 Downloads
2022-08
FREE
Free Shipping74
DownloadsPEF has enhanced barrier, mechanical and thermal properties compared to today’s widely used
petroleum-based polymers. The barrier properties of PEF, which are ~10x better for O2, ~15x better
for CO2 and ~2.5x better for water than PET, represent a revolutionary opportunity compared with traditional packaging solutions regarding performance, price, and sustainability when produced at scale. The improved barrier properties lead to a longer shelf life of packaged products. PEF also offers higher mechanical strength, which means that thinner PEF packaging can be produced and fewer resources are required.
In terms of thermal properties, PEF has superior ability to withstand heat and can be processed at lower temperatures. PEF has enhanced mechanical stiffness and allows for increasing shaping possibilities. -
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) Webinar slides – July 2022 (PDF)
Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology
41 Pages
446 Downloads446 Downloads
2022-07
FREE
Free Shipping446
DownloadsThis 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 July 2022
-
Erneuerbarer Kohlenstoff – Schlüssel zur Zukunft (PDF)
Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology
2 Pages
114 Downloads114 Downloads
2022-07
FREE
Free Shipping114
DownloadsDie chemische Industrie steht aktuell vor einer Vielzahl an Herausforderungen, aus denen eine neue, nachhaltige Chemie erwachsen kann – wenn die große Transformation in den nächsten Jahrzehnten gelingt. Und das muss sie!
Quelle: „Erneuerbarer Kohlenstoff – Schlüssel zur Zukunft“ – aus CHEManager 7/2022
https://www.chemanager-online.com/news/erneuerbarer-kohlenstoff-schluessel-zur-zukunft -
nova-paper #16: The Biomass Utilisation Factor (BUF)
Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health
62 Pages
837 Downloads837 Downloads
2022-06
FREE
837
DownloadsThe Biomass Utilisation Factor (BUF) is a new metric combining cascading use and production efficiency into one indicator to investigate the circularity of materials for the circular bioeconomy. Cascading use captures the repeated use of the original biomass, either for the same or a different purpose. Production efficiency looks at how much of the biomass input is actually transformed into useful products or materials.
The BUF can serve not only as an indicator for the circular economy principle of keeping materials in use, but also act as an efficient tool for stakeholders and policy makers to identify options that maximize biomass utilisation and keep materials in use for longer. In light of recent political developments in Europe, the BUF can serve as a tool that provides additional insights for achieving sustainable carbon cycles or help to respect the cascading principle of biomass utilisation.
-
2022-06
2,500 € – 10,000 € ex. tax
Incl. taxFree Shipping
licenceAdvanced recycling technologies are developing at a fast pace, with new players constantly appearing on the market, from start-ups to giants and everything in between – new plants are being built, new capacities are being achieved, and new partnerships are established. Due to these developments, it is difficult to keep track of everything. The report “Mapping of advanced recycling technologies for plastics waste” aims to clear up this jungle of information providing a structured, in-depth overview and insight. It has an exclusive focus on profiling available technologies and providers of advanced recycling including the addition of new technologies and updated/revised profiles.
Further information:
The new report “Mapping of advanced recycling – Providers, technologies, and partnerships” differs from the old report “Chemical Recycling – Status, Trends and Challenges” as follows:
- All technology provider profiles from the old report included + updated to 2022.
- Overall >100 technologies and providers (vs. >70 technologies and providers in the old report)
- Extensive introductory part on polymer types, demand of different polymer types, waste fractions, political framework, position papers, technologies, LCAs, associations and waste management companies are no longer included in this report
In summary, this report is suitable for interested readers who have already dealt with the advanced recycling topic and are looking for an up-to-date overview of all identified providers and a detailed description of the technologies.
P.S.: All you want to know about advanced recycling technologies and renewable chemicals, building-blocks, monomers, and polymers based on recycling: Hear about it at the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC), 14–15 November 2022, Cologne, Germany (hybrid event).
-
346 Downloads
2022-06
FREE
Free Shipping346
DownloadsFull spectrum of available recycling technologies divided by their basic working principles and their products.
-
408 Downloads
2022-06
FREE
Free Shipping408
DownloadsLife of a polymer from the production to its disposal (e.g. landfill) indicated with black arrows including various recycling and recovery routes indicated in different coloured arrows.