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25 05 14 shop slider 4 cover bio-based & CO₂-based polymers
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25 05 14 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 pha cover More details Report on
The PHA Industry
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  • 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)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    15 Pages
    648 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

  • bio based polymers worldwide (pdf)

    Bio-based Polymers Worldwide (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    5 Pages
    583 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.
  • sustainable textiles the way forward (pdf)

    Sustainable textiles – the way forward (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Sustainability & Health

    6 Pages
    383 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.
  • 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)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    41 Pages
    1488 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

  • eu and global: biomass demand for transport fuels, aviation and shipping up to 2050 and implications for biomass supply to the chemical sector (pdf)

    EU and Global: Biomass Demand for Transport Fuels, Aviation and Shipping up to 2050 and Implications for Biomass Supply to the Chemical Sector (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    44 Pages
    1113 Downloads

    2025-01

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    The Renewable Carbon Initiative’s Scientific Background Report explores three potential future scenarios for carbon-based fuel demand up to 2050 under current policy frameworks. It predicts a sharp rise in the demand for second-generation biomass biofuels, driven primarily by increasing quotas for aviation and shipping fuels. This growth raises concerns about ecological and resource sustainability and creates challenges for sectors like chemicals and materials, which rely on renewable carbon to reduce fossil dependency. Without similar regulatory incentives, these sectors may face limited access to critical feedstocks like biomass and captured carbon.

    The report highlights that while bio-based and synthetic fuel production could indirectly benefit the chemical industry through by-products, competition with the fuel sector poses significant obstacles.The report includes 11 tables, 9 graphics, and a detailed overview of EU fuel regulations. Though focused on Europe, it also provides global insights, making it a valuable resource for stakeholders in biomass and CO2 utilisation sectors.

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.52548/GXVG4189

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    Advanced Recycling Conference 2024 (Proceedings)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    2024-12

    150 € ex. tax

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    The proceedings of the Advanced Recycling Conference 2024 (20-21 November, https://advanced-recycling.eu) contain 42 conference presentations, the conference journal, sponsor documents and the press release.

  • rci position paper on chemical and physical recycling (pdf) (copy)

    Evaluation of Recent Reports on the Future of a Net-Zero Chemical Industry in 2050 (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    20 Pages
    1590 Downloads

    2024-11

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    The Renewable Carbon Initiative’s Scientific Background Report assesses 24 scenarios from 15 studies to envision a net-zero chemical industry by 2050. The analysis anticipates continued growth in chemical production, projecting a 2.4-fold increase in global feedstock demand by 2050 compared to 2020 levels, with most expansion expected outside Europe while European feedstock volumes remain stable. To achieve net-zero emissions, the industry is projected to undergo a significant shift in feedstocks, with key renewable carbon sources identified as biomass (22%), carbon capture and utilisation (33%), and recycling (20%), while the remaining 24% comes from fossil sources with carbon capture and storage. For plastics specifically, recycling is expected to play an even larger role, accounting for 42% of feedstocks on average. This transition will require continued innovation and investment in renewable carbon technologies to meet ambitious defossilisation goals.

    The report provides invaluable insights for industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers, highlighting the urgent need for action to achieve a net-zero future in the chemical sector by 2050.

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/SXWV6083

  • alternatives naphtha – den kreislauf für kunststoffe und reifen schließen: pyrolyseöl als chemischer rohstoff (gastbeitrag teil 3) (pdf)

    Alternatives Naphtha – Den Kreislauf für Kunststoffe und Reifen schließen: Pyrolyseöl als chemischer Rohstoff (Gastbeitrag Teil 3) (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Technology

    1 Page
    79 Downloads

    2024-11

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    In den beiden vorangegangenen Artikeln dieser Serie wurde das Konzept des alternativen Naphthas als Ersatz für fossile Rohstoffe in Raffinerien und Steamcrackern vorgestellt. In diesem dritten Artikel konzentriert sich die Diskussion auf Pyrolyseöl, das durch chemisches Recycling von Kunststoffabfällen und Reifen gewonnen wird, und warum dies ein wichtiges „alternatives Naphtha“ für Raffinerien und Steamcracker ist.

    Relevante Anteile erneuerbarer Chemikalien und Polymere sind ohne „alternatives Naphtha“ nicht möglich. Ohne eine Abkehr von fossilem Naphtha wird es keine signifikante Defossilisierung des Chemiesektors geben.

    Dieser Artikel ist im Rahmen einer Serie von Gastbeiträgen im CHEManager erschienen. Es handelt sich um „Alternatives Naphtha Teil 3“ – aus CHEManager 11/2024.

    Hier finden sie den Artikel auch bei CHEManager.

     

  • nova institut networking and knowledge (pdf)

    nova-Institut Networking and Knowledge (PDF)

    4 Pages
    153 Downloads

    2024-10

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  • alternatives naphtha – herstellung und nutzung – wie erneuerbare rohstoffe zu naphtha verarbeitet werden (gastbeitrag teil 2) (pdf)

    Alternatives Naphtha – Herstellung und Nutzung – Wie erneuerbare Rohstoffe zu Naphtha verarbeitet werden (Gastbeitrag Teil 2) (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Technology

    1 Page
    38 Downloads

    2024-10

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    Im ersten Artikel dieser dreiteiligen Serie wurde das Konzept „Alternatives Naphtha“ als Ersatz für fossile Rohstoffe in Raffinerien und Steamcrackern vorgestellt. Relevante Mengen erneuerbarer Chemikalien und Polymere sind ohne alternatives Naphtha nicht realisierbar, eine signifikante Defossilisierung des Chemiesektors erfordert den Verzicht auf fossiles Naphtha. Im zweiten Artikel wird die Herstellung und Nutzung von alternativem Naphtha genauer beleuchtet.

    Biobasierte Rohstoffe wie Fette, Öle und Schmierstoffe (Triglyceride) können fossile Erdölrohstoffe ersetzen und in bestehenden Raffinerien mitverarbeitet werden. Dies ist attraktiv, da Raffinerien ohne große Investitionen Biokraftstoffe und biobasierte Grundchemikalien produzieren können. Eine Vorbehandlung der Rohstoffe kann dabei erforderlich sein.

    Dieser Artikel ist im Rahmen einer Serie von Gastbeiträgen im CHEManager erschienen. Es handelt sich um „Alternatives Naphtha Teil 2“ – aus CHEManager 10/2024.

    Hier finden sie den Artikel auch bei CHEManager.

  • innovative bio based products for a clean transition (pdf)

    Forest-Based Biorefineries: Innovative Bio-Based Products for a clean Transition (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Technology

    8 Pages
    372 Downloads

    2024-10

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    A new study conducted by the nova-Institute and commissioned by the Confederation of European Paper Industries (Cepi) unveils a significant surge in the European biorefinery sector, with forest-based biorefineries more than doubling their turnover to €6 billion since 2020. This remarkable growth underscores the rising demand for sustainable, bio-based alternatives to fossil-based products.

    The research, focused on the pulp and paper industry that produce additional bio-based products which land on the market beyond pulp and paper, identifies a total of 143 biorefineries across Europe, with 126 currently operational and 17 in development. The largest number of biorefineries is in Sweden, Finland, Germany, Portugal and Austria. The study points to a bright future for biorefineries, with projected annual growth rates of up to 5% until 2050.
    The products of these biorefineries provide sustainable solutions across various industries, from aviation to fashion, offering alternatives in materials, chemicals, fuels, food, and pharmaceuticals. Importantly, biorefineries contribute to Europe’s climate targets, with bio-based products already substituting over 3.1 megatons of CO2 emissions that would have been produced by fossil-based industries.

    The study emphasises that these advancements are not replacing traditional pulp and paper-making activities but are creating new revenue streams and increasing resource efficiency, providing a pathway to sustainable economic growth.

    Source: https://www.cepi.org/report-pulp-and-paper-biorefineries-in-europe-innovative-bio-based-products-for-a-clean-transition

  • die zukunft des recycling gestalten (pdf)

    Die Zukunft des Recyclings gestalten (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    2 Pages
    484 Downloads

    2024-10

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    Die ambitionierten Recyclingziele der EU, die (Selbst-)Verpflichtungen der chemischen Industrie und der Markenhersteller sowie die Anforderungen der Kunden üben einen enormen Entwicklungsdruck auf den Recyclingsektor aus. Einem großen Anteil nicht recycelter Abfallströme stehen die Nachfrage und die Suche nach erneuerbaren Rohstoffen für Chemikalien und Materialien gegenüber. Dies wirft die Frage auf, welche Technologien für welchen Abfallstrom am besten geeignet sind und wie die Umweltauswirkungen zu bewerten sind.

    Quelle: Advanced Recycling: Technologien und Markttrends für eine nachhaltige Kreislaufwirtschaft“ – aus CITplus 10/2024

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

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

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    22 Pages
    714 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

  • european bioeconomy in figures 2014–2021 (pdf)

    European Bioeconomy in Figures 2014–2021 (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    29 Pages
    798 Downloads

    2024-09

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    The bioeconomy in the European Union is a strong contributor to the overall economy and accounts for over 16 million employees and more than 2.3 trillion Euro in turnover across all 27 Member States. In terms of turnover almost half of the 2.3 trillion Euro can be attributed to the food and feed industries, which remain a large part of the EU bioeconomy. Adding to this are the agriculture and forestry sectors providing primary biomass to bioeconomic processes. However, the sectors processing these feedstocks and manufacturing intermediate and end-use products, collectively referred to as the bio-based industries, find themselves contributing on a stable level to the overall bioeconomy and account for almost a third of the overall turnover.

     

  • swift implementation of eu biotech and biomanufacturing initiative is key to strengthen eu competitiveness and accelerate defossilisation (pdf)

    RCI’s position paper: “Swift implementation of EU biotech and biomanufacturing initiative is key to strengthen EU competitiveness and accelerate defossilisation (PDF)”

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    3 Pages
    457 Downloads

    2024-09

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    The Renewable Carbon Initiative’s position paper emphasizes that the EU must swiftly implement its biotechnology and biomanufacturing initiative to accelerate the shift from fossil carbon to renewable sources and boost competitiveness. The Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) highlights three key actions:

    1.) Align with Circular Economy Policies: Ensure consistency across EU initiatives to promote renewable carbon from biomass, recycling, and CCU.

    2.) Boost Market Demand: Address the lack of demand for renewable feedstocks by implementing policies to make fossil alternatives less competitive.

    3.) Enable Fossil-to-Renewable Transition: Repurposing current fossil-based manufacturing to use renewable feedstocks. Clear sustainability criteria, access to various biomass sources, and broader definitions of biomanufacturing processes are essential to achieving this transition.

    These actions are vital for achieving net-zero goals and strengthening EU industry.

  • alternatives naphtha – Artikel 1 im CHEManager

    Alternatives Naphtha – Erneuerbare Kohlenstoffquellen sollen der Defossilisierung der Chemieindustrie einen Schub verleihen (Gastbeitrag Teil 1) (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Technology

    1 Page
    33 Downloads

    2024-09

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    Für die Defossilisierung der chemischen Industrie ist es entscheidend, Alternativen zu fossilem Naphtha zu finden. Relevante Anteile erneuerbarer Chemikalien und Polymere sind ohne „alternatives Naphtha“ nicht möglich.

    Das Konzept „alternatives Naphtha“ nutzt die bestehende Raffinerie-, Steamcracker- und Chemieindustrieinfrastruktur, in der ein Teil der fossilen Rohstoffe – Rohöl oder fossiles Naphtha – durch erneuerbare Kohlenstoffalternativen ersetzt werden kann, die aus den drei Quellen Biomasse, CO2 und Recycling stammen.

    Dieser Artikel ist im Rahmen einer Serie von Gastbeiträgen im CHEManager erschienen. Es handelt sich um „Alternatives Naphtha Teil 1“ – aus CHEManager 09/2024.

    Hier finden sie den Artikel auch bei CHEManager.

     

  • renewable carbon initiative (rci) webinar slides – july 2024 (pdf)

    Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) Webinar slides – July 2024 (PDF)

    Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    60 Pages
    497 Downloads

    2024-07

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    This document contains a generic set of slides to introduce the concept of renewable carbon and the Renewable Carbon Initiative. The focus of this webinar is the work and impact of the RCI. Moreover, Arndt Scheidgen, Head of Product Stewardship at Henkel Consumer Brands joined the webinar to give insights as an industry leader.

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

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

    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

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

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

    Markets & Economy, Technology

    20 Pages
    1109 Downloads

    2024-07

    FREE

     

    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

  • towards an ambitious industrial carbon management for the eu – a call for speedy and coherent implementation of policy measures (pdf)

    RCI’s position paper: “Towards an ambitious Industrial Carbon Management for the EU – A Call for Speedy and Coherent Implementation of Policy Measures (PDF)”

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    3 Pages
    485 Downloads

    2024-07

    FREE

     

    The Renewable Carbon Initiative’s position paper emphasizes the need for a comprehensive industrial carbon management strategy in the EU that goes beyond CO2 emissions to include all carbon sources, promoting the use of renewable carbon from biomass, CCU, and recycling. It calls for the establishment of a regulatory framework with specific sub-targets and incentives by 2025 to accelerate the adoption of circular carbon technologies and reduce dependence on fossil feedstocks. The paper argues that recognising carbon as a raw material is essential for achieving sustainable carbon cycles and meeting the EU’s climate neutrality goals by 2050.