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  • Conference on CO2-based Fuels and Chemicals 2023 Proceedings [Digital]

    Conference on CO2-based Fuels and Chemicals 2023 Proceedings

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology


    201 Downloads

    2023-05

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    The proceedings of the Conference on CO2-based Fuels and Chemicals  (19-20 April 2023, https://co2-chemistry.eu) contain all released presentations, the conference journal, and the press release of the three winners of the Innovation Award “Best CO2 Utilisation 2023″.

    Press Release: https://renewable-carbon.eu/news/smart-carbon-capture-and-utilisation-ccu-technologies-and-materials-defossilise-the-economy

  • Cellulose Fibres Conference 2023 (Proceedings, PDF) [Digital]

    Cellulose Fibres Conference 2023 (Proceedings, PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology


    83 Downloads

    2023-03

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    The unique conference focused on cellulose fibres – in textiles, hygiene products and packaging!

    The Cellulose Fibres 2023 Conference Proceedings (https://cellulose-fibres.eu, 8-9 March 2023, Cologne, hybrid) include all released conference presentations, the conference journal, sponsor documents, a Fiber2Fashion Knowledgepaper and the conference press release.

  • Add to
    cart    nova-Session: “Bio- and CO₂-based Polymers: Production, Trends 2022-2027 and the latest Policy Developments” (Proceedings, PDF) [Digital]

    nova-Session: “Bio- and CO₂-based Polymers: Production, Trends 2022-2027 and the latest Policy Developments” (Proceedings, PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    2023-03

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    The download of the proceedings contains all six presentations of the nova-Session (March 2023).

    Bio-based and CO2-based Solutions – Where are we heading?

    The only way for chemicals and plastics to become sustainable, climate-friendly and part of the circular economy is the complete substitution of fossil carbon with renewable carbon from alternative sources: biomass, CO2 and recycling. We see strong investment in all three sectors, with growth rates far exceeding that of fossil polymers – i.e. fossil polymers are being substituted in the market.

    The session will focus on developments in bio- and CO2-based polymers and building blocks: Bio-based polymers are estimated to grow at a CAGR of 14 % from 2022 to 2027. Some examples: Bio-based epoxy resin production is on the rise, PTT regained attractiveness after several years of constant capacities and PE and PP made from bio based naphtha are being further established with growing volumes. Increased capacities for PLA are ongoing, after being sold out in 2019. Current and future expansions for bio based polyamides as well as PHAs are on the horizon. And also, bio-based PET is getting back in the game.

    Additionally, the use of CO2 as chemical feedstock for building blocks and polymers has been intensively diversified. Several successfully implemented technologies used at commercial level are in place and many more at the laboratory and pilot phase. Besides the long-established use of CO2 for the synthesis of polycarbonates, also polyurethanes are based on it. The most notable biotechnological conversion pathway of a syngas produces ethanol at commercial scale. Additionally, high interest is also observed in CO2-based methanol and in CO2-based hydrocarbons, which can be used for fuel, chemical and polymers applications. A current total production capacity of these CO2-based products of ca. 1.3 Mt/a in 2022 is observed and a strong increase in capacity is expected by 2027.

    The EU policy landscape has seen significant updates in the final weeks of 2022 with the proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and the publication of the Policy Framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics. How these updates may affect CO2 and bio-based polymers will be addressed in the session.

  • 2175660e f28b 4333 bc65 1302311814c2

    Letter to the Commission on the definition of natural polymers in the REACH microplastics restriction

    Policy, Sustainability & Health

    4 Pages
    492 Downloads

    2023-02

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    Six leading associations and stakeholders from the chemicals, polymers and plastics sectors – namely BioChem Europe (a sector group of Cefic), EDANA, EuropaBio, European BioPlastics, GO!PHA and Renewable Carbon Initiative) – express in this letter their specific concerns about the proposed definition of “natural polymers” and its impact on biopolymers in the context of the REACH restriction on microplastics.

    Under the coordination of the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) they ask the European Commission in a letter “that in the adoption of the text of the Synthetic Polymer Microparticles restrictions (REACH Microplastics Restriction), the European Commission should not use the definition of ‘natural polymer’ which refers to a polymerisation process that takes place in nature.“

  • cover importance of mass balance and free attribution (mbfa) for the conversion of the chemical sector to alternative carbon sources

    Importance of Mass Balance and Free Attribution (MBFA) for the Conversion of the Chemical Sector to Alternative Carbon Sources – RCI Position Paper (October 2022)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    4 Pages
    771 Downloads

    2022-12

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    A position paper of the Renewable Carbon Initiative

    This 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.

     

     

  • 22 11 28 rc publications cover proceedings arc

    Advanced Recycling Conference 2022 (Proceedings)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology


    133 Downloads

    2022-11

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    The 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.

  • renewable carbon initiative und eu policy framework on bio based, biodegradable and compostable plastics

    Draft EU Policy Framework on Bio-Based, Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics – RCI Position Paper (October 2022)

    Policy, Sustainability & Health

    5 Pages
    541 Downloads

    2022-10

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    The 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) [Digital]

    nova-Session “Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Science and Policy” (Proceedings)

    Sustainability & Health


    6 Downloads

    2022-10

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    The 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.

  • 22 11 18 pef sustainable packaging material for bottles thumbnail

    PEF – A Sustainable Packaging Material for Bottles (PDF)

    Sustainability & Health, Technology

    14 Pages
    823 Downloads

    2022-08

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    The 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.

  • 22 07 07 pef climate change resource use thumbnail

    Environmental impacts of 250 ml monolayer and PET/PEF multilayer bottles vs. their fossil counterparts (PNG)

    Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    165 Downloads

    2022-08

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    This 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).

  • 22 07 07 pef plant based pef bottles thumbnail

    Plant-based PEF bottles (PNG)

    Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    304 Downloads

    2022-08

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    Avantium 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.

  • 22 07 07 pef properties thumbnail

    PEF properties (PNG)

    Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    158 Downloads

    2022-08

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    PEF 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.

  • 22 07 07 pef life cycle stages of monolayer pef bottles thumbnail

    Life cycle stages of monolayer PEF bottles (PNG)

    Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    135 Downloads

    2022-08

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    This 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.

  • 22 07 erneuerbarer kohlenstoff chemanager carus thumbnail

    Erneuerbarer Kohlenstoff – Schlüssel zur Zukunft (PDF)

    Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology

    2 Pages
    346 Downloads

    2022-07

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    Die 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

  • biomass utilisation factor shop thumbnail

    nova-paper #16: The Biomass Utilisation Factor (BUF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    62 Pages
    1492 Downloads

    2022-06

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    The 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.

  • 22 05 die neue tugend – kunststoff im kreislauf umweltmagazin michael carus thumbnail

    Die neue Tugend: Kunststoff im Kreislauf (PDF)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health

    1 Page
    293 Downloads

    2022-05

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    Rohstoffe werden knapp, sowohl Metalle wie auch Mineralien. Nur erneuerbarer Kohlenstoff ist praktisch unbegrenzt verfügbar. Daher werden Kunststoffe in Zukunft noch wichtiger sein als heute, und deshalb müssen sie so nachhaltig wie möglich gestaltet werden: aus erneuerbarem Kohlenstoff und voll recycelbar.

  • Renewable Materials Conference, 10-12 May 2022 (Proceedings) [Digital]

    Renewable Materials Conference, 10-12 May 2022 (Proceedings)

    Markets & Economy, Policy, Sustainability & Health, Technology


    258 Downloads

    2022-05

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    The proceedings of the Renewable Materials Conference (10-12 May 2022, https://renewable-materials.eu) contain conference presentations, the conference journal, and the press release of the three winners of the innovation award “Renewable Material of the Year”!

     

     

  • 22 04 28 co2 reduction potential of the chemical industry through ccu tumbnail

    CO2 Reduction Potential of the Chemical Industry Through CCU: A simplified exploratory scenario for CCU-based supply of embedded carbon for the global chemicals and derived materials sector – RCI Report (May 2022)

    Sustainability & Health, Technology

    28 Pages
    1968 Downloads

    2022-05

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    In an exploratory scenario, this study investigates the CO₂ emission reductions that can be achieved in the global chemical and derived material industries if the entire demand for embedded carbon is met solely and exclusively via CO₂ instead of from fossil sources. Major simplifications are used to achieve transparency and comprehensibility of the issue. Methanol (CH3OH) is considered to cover the needs for hydrocarbons for chemicals and derived materials among the various chemical intermediates as a representative pathway for renewable carbon. It is a plausible scenario to assign methanol a central role in supplying the chemical industry of the future.

    The GHG emissions of CCU-based methanol could be 67 to 77 % lower compared to emissions from releasing embedded carbon of fossil fuels, when using current energy supply based on photovoltaics. With improvements in renewable energy production, the reduction could increase to levels between 96 and 100 %.

    DOI No.: https://doi.org/10.52548/UTRL5869

  • 22 04 28 ccu based resource supply for the chemical industry thumbnail

    CCU-based Resource Supply for the Chemical Industry (PNG)

    Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    254 Downloads

    2022-05

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    It is a plausible scenario to assign methanol (CH₃OH) a central role in supplying the chemical industry of the future. Already today, methanol plays an important role in the chemical industry, being one of the most established commodities.

    CCU-based process route for production of methanol includes production of hydrogen via electrolysis, CO₂ capture from the atmosphere or from industrial point sources, and the hydrogenation reaction. Electricity demand for these processes is represented by red arrows. Above the arrow, the specific energy demand is stated, below, the contribution of the process to the total electricity demand of 1 t of methanol is stated. Purification and compression of hydrogen are neglected. For CO₂ hydrogenation, a complete reaction is assumed.

  • 22 04 28 co2 emissions from embedded carbon in chemicals thumbnail

    CO₂ Emissions From Embedded Carbon in Chemicals (PNG)

    Sustainability & Health, Technology

    1 Page
    306 Downloads

    2022-05

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    When fossil feedstock is used, the fossil-based embedded carbon contained in chemicals and materials is emitted to the atmosphere at their end of life, assuming complete oxidation (e.g. through combustion or (bio)degradation).

    When using CCU-based feedstock to replace the fossil feedstock, at the end of life, no additional carbon (or CO2, respectively) is emitted to the air because it was captured from the air (or from point sources) before through carbon capture. Only the electricity demand for CCU-based feedstock production causes CO2 emissions.