The fossil fuel trap: Why defossilising chemistry is essential – and feasible! (PDF)

How can we escape the fossil fuel trap, our dependence on fossil fuels and the vulnerability that comes with it? In the long term, recycling, together with biogenic carbon and CO_₂, can completely replace fossil carbon from crude oil or natural gas as a raw material for plastics production. This will enable the European Union to become independent of fossil carbon imports and increase its resilience and competitiveness. To achieve this, it is crucial to shape the transition phase in a politically astute and rapid manner so that the transformation of the chemical industry in Europe is successful – after all, Europe is the birthplace of modern chemistry. This is the only way to prevent the EU from remaining stuck in a fossil fuel trap while other regions successfully transform their economies.

Authors

Michael Carus, CEO nova-Institute

Date of publication

Jul 2025

Pages

8

Language

File type

PDF

Downloads

199

Topics

Markets & Economy, Policy, Technology

Renewable Carbon Types

CO2-based