Showing 1–20 of 146

  • 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)

    New

    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.
  • 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)

    New

    Sustainability & Health

    39 Pages
    479 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.

  • overview of ccu / sdg assessment (png)

    Overview of CCU / SDG Assessment (PNG)

    Policy, Sustainability & Health

    1 Page
    56 Downloads

    2023-10

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  • 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.

  • 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
    2758 Downloads

    2023-09

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  • Carbon Storage in Hemp and Wood - Cover

    Carbon Storage in Hemp and Wood raw materials for Construction Materials

    Sustainability & Health

    20 Pages
    80 Downloads

    2023-07

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    As such, it is interesting to investigate the potential of biomass to store carbon in raw materials used in industry, more specifically the construction industry. What is the potential of biomass to supply the construction industry with raw materials containing temporarily stored biogenic carbon per hectare and year? Are there differences between various biomass types? What is the associated reduction of atmospheric greenhouse gasses due to the carbon in the raw materials? What are the emissions of greenhouse gasses associated with this provision of raw materials? This study will look into these questions for wood and hemp based raw materials which can be used in the construction industry. The production of the construction materials, and the associated emissions with the conversion of the raw materials to final products, is outside the scope of this assessment due to the wide variety of construction materials which can be produced from the raw materials. The study has calculated the potential of a hectare of wood and hemp to transfer carbon from the biosphere to materials which can be used in the construction and insulation industry. The potential of a hectare of wood and hemp to provide carbon to the construction industry, including greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, is similar.

  • Gross and Net Carbon Removal of Hemp and Wood per Hectare and Year - Thumbnail

    Gross and net carbon removal of hemp and wood per hectare and year (PNG)

    Sustainability & Health

    1 Page
    46 Downloads

    2023-07

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  • 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
    991 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

  • 22 11 10 wholesale prices of bioethanol and wheat thumbnail

    Wholesale Prices of Bioethanol and Wheat (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    47 Downloads

    2023-06

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  • 22 12 05 global harvested agricultural and grazed biomass demand by sectors thumbnail

    Global Harvested Agricultural and Grazed Biomass Demand by Sectors (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    75 Downloads

    2023-06

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  • 23 02 13 embedded carbon demand for main sector thumbnail

    Embedded Carbon Demand for Main Sector (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    80 Downloads

    2023-06

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  • 23 03 01 traffic light sustainability risk evaluation of bio based feedstocks thumbnail

    Traffic Light Sustainability Risk Evaluation of Bio-based Feedstocks (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    162 Downloads

    2023-06

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  • 23 03 17 corn and its applications thumbnail

    Corn and its Applications (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    71 Downloads

    2023-06

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  • rapeseed and its applications (png)

    Rapeseed and its Applications (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    52 Downloads

    2023-06

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  • 23 06 14 yield of fermentable sugars thumbnail

    Yield of Fermentable Sugars (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    83 Downloads

    2023-06

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  • 23 06 12 the use of food and feed crops for bio based materials 960x540 thumbnail

    Graphic of the scientific paper „The Use of Food and Feed Crops for Bio-based Materials and the Related Effects on Food Security“ (PNG)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    64 Downloads

    2023-06

    FREE

     

    Promoting Evidence-based Debates and Recognising Potential Benefits

    The graphic shows the multiple potential benefits of using food and feed crops for bio-based materials, in terms of climate, land productivity, environment, farmers, market stability, feed security and food security.

    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.
  • the use of food and feed crops for bio based materials and the related effects on food security long version (pdf)

    The Use of Food and Feed Crops for Bio-based Materials and the Related Effects on Food Security – Long Version (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    36 Pages
    843 Downloads

    2023-06

    FREE

     

    Promoting Evidence-based Debates and Recognising Potential Benefits

    This scientific paper highlights 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.

     

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/WQXU7327

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    Renewable Materials Conference 2023 Proceedings

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    2023-06

    200 € ex. tax

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    The proceedings of the Renewable Materials Conference  2023 (23-25 May 2023, https://renewable-materials.eu) contain all released presentations of three conference days, the conference journal, and the press release of the three winners of the Innovation Award “Renewable Material of the Year 2023“.

  • rci carbon flows report: compilation of supply and demand of fossil and renewable carbon on a global and european level (pdf)

    RCI Carbon Flows Report: Compilation of supply and demand of fossil and renewable carbon on a global and European level (PDF)

    Policy, Sustainability & Health

    92 Pages
    1605 Downloads

    2023-05

    FREE

     

    The Carbon Flows report is a compilation of supply and demand of fossil and renewable carbon on a global and European level. It provides a comprehensive understanding of today’s carbon flows and what it means to replace fossil carbon with renewable carbon in the materials and chemicals sectors. It’s main intent is to provide a uniform and transparent data basis for a future carbon management that can be used and shared by industry, associations, policy-makers, science and alike.

    In the last five years, the mindset around carbon has changed fundamentally. Of course, there is no way around the fact that the rising concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere pose an existential threat to life on Earth. But at the same time, carbon is the main component of our food, the basis of all organic chemicals and plastics, and the backbone of life on Earth.
    In the chemicals and plastics sectors in particular, almost 90% of the carbon used as feedstock is fossil carbon. This fossil carbon must be replaced by renewable carbon from recycling, biomass and CO2 by 2050 to avoid a further influx of fossil carbon into our technosphere and atmosphere.

    This report provides a comprehensive, detailed and updated carbon flow data basis that significantly surpasses previous publications, containing more than 35 figures and tables with corresponding descriptions of methodology, source material and data. All data have been corroborated as best as currently possible by scientific publications, feedback from experts and additional research. Remaining gaps and differences are transparently depicted and explained as well as possible.

    The nova experts assessed data from a multitude of sources. A wide range of data on material flow are used to compile a comprehensive inventory of carbon stocks and flows. The sectors covered include all applications of organic carbon from fossil resources and biomass production, from raw materials through utilisation to final end-of-life. This includes use of carbon for feed and food, for materials, for energy and for fuels. A special focus is put on the carbon demand in the chemical and plastic industry today and tomorrow, with several figures specifically zooming into this sector and including scenarios for a full defossilisation by 2050.

    The Carbon Flows report is designed to be a living document that we would like to update every one to two years if possible. This also means that we look forward to your feedback, additional input, new data and suggestions from any interested party. Please directly contact the main author of the study for this: ferdinand.kaehler@nova-institut.de

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/KCTT1279