Issue 05/2023
Highlights Fibres / Textiles Polyurethane / Elastomers
Highlights
Fibres / Textiles
Polyurethane / Elastomers
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Bio-based CO2-based Recycling<br />
INITIATIVE<br />
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) Manifesto for the next European Commission (2024-2029)<br />
2<br />
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) Manifesto for the next European Commission (2024-2029)<br />
3<br />
RENEWABLE<br />
CARBON<br />
INITIATIVE<br />
Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI)<br />
Manifesto for the next European<br />
Commission (2024-2029)<br />
Key messages<br />
Circular Economy<br />
1. Ensure renewable carbon is a guiding principle for policies and targets<br />
Product-related policies do not sufficiently consider the feedstock base or the carbon source of products.<br />
If they do, they only consider recycled content as seen in recent developments around the Packaging and<br />
Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). This<br />
oversight is detrimental to climate objectives as the material and chemical sectors will then continue to<br />
rely on fossil carbon feedstock from below the ground for their products. The embedded fossil carbon in<br />
these products will eventually be released into the atmosphere at their end of life through degradation or<br />
incineration – if the products are not collected and recycled. This embedded carbon needs more political<br />
attention as an important factor for material-related emissions (Scope 3).<br />
2. Stepwise phaseout of fossil carbon by 2<strong>05</strong>0<br />
In order to achieve independence from fossil carbon from the ground, three sources of renewable carbon are<br />
available: bio-based, CO₂-based and recycling, including advanced recycling technologies that complement<br />
mechanical recycling when it falls short (i.e., accumulation of toxic substances, quality loss, recycled<br />
packaging for food contact). The concept of circular carbon cycles – in which carbon is emitted, re-captured,<br />
recycled, emitted and re-captured again through the use of CCU (from point sources and direct air capture<br />
6. Enable the deployment of CCU as a key strategic net-zero technology to supply<br />
sustainable and circular carbon<br />
CCU is an indispensable technology for supplying carbon to the chemical and material industries without<br />
further tapping into fossil carbon resources from below the ground, making it an important CO 2 abatement<br />
tool. CCU with biogenic or atmospheric carbon also leads to carbon removals when used for long-term<br />
applications or in combination with high recycling rates. This should be accounted for in carbon removal<br />
legislation.<br />
7. Support the transformation of existing chemical infrastructure from fossil to<br />
renewable carbon and support the transformation of biofuels plants<br />
The demand for carbon-containing fuels in road transport is expected to decrease in Europe in the coming<br />
decades. In contrast, the share of chemicals derived from refineries will increase heavily compared to fuels.<br />
This will free up existing biofuel infrastructure which should not be left behind. Instead, the biofuel sector<br />
could grab the opportunity to become one source of raw materials supply for a chemical industry based on<br />
renewable carbon. Investments in production changes are already taking place; this is a unique opportunity<br />
for policymakers to steer these changes in a sustainable direction and support the shift to renewable<br />
RENEWABLE<br />
CARBON<br />
(DAC)), and biomass used as feedstock – must be an integral part of political thinking. RCI believes that<br />
carbon without discriminating against existing production from renewable feedstock.<br />
1. Ensure that carbon embedded in chemicals and materials is given more political attention as an<br />
virgin fossil-based chemicals and materials should not have a future beyond 2<strong>05</strong>0, and the European<br />
important factor for material-related emissions. Renewable carbon derived from biomass, direct CO 2<br />
utilisation, and recycling must become a guiding principle for policies and targets regulating chemicals<br />
Commission must make this an explicit objective.<br />
and materials.<br />
2. Make a stepwise phaseout of fossil carbon from below the ground for chemicals and materials by<br />
2<strong>05</strong>0 an explicit objective.<br />
3. Enshrine the Sustainable Carbon Cycles Communication’s 20% target of non-fossil<br />
carbon in binding legislation<br />
The Sustainable Carbon Cycles Communication has a visionary target: “at least 20% of the carbon used<br />
in chemical and plastic products should be from sustainable non-fossil resources by 2030”. While the RCI<br />
3. Enshrine the 20% target of non-fossil carbon in chemicals and plastics by 2030 from the Sustainable<br />
agrees with this target, there is no definition for “sustainable non-fossil resources”. Therefore, we urge the<br />
Carbon Cycles Communication in binding legislation and ensure implementation through concrete<br />
Commission to adopt a precise definition that includes all three carbon sources (bio-based, CO₂-based<br />
political action.<br />
and recycling), enshrine the target in binding legislation, and follow up with concrete political action for<br />
4. Establish a ‘Carbon Management Regulation’ to incentivise companies to replace fossil carbon from<br />
implementation.<br />
below the ground with renewable alternatives.<br />
4. Establish a ‘Carbon Management Regulation’<br />
5. Promote bio- and CO 2-based 1 or -attributed content in parallel to recycled content in product-related<br />
Establishing a comprehensive legal framework that promotes the management of sustainable carbon supply<br />
regulation.<br />
and demand and that facilitates renewable carbon uptake would be a significant step towards a climate-<br />
6. Deploy carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) as a key strategic net-zero technology to supply sustainable<br />
neutral and circular chemical and material sector. It should be possible to set targets for Member States<br />
and circular carbon.<br />
or companies to increase the minimum percentage of renewable carbon in products, similar to renewable<br />
7. Support the transformation of existing chemical infrastructure from fossil to renewable carbon and<br />
support the transformation of biofuels plants into chemical suppliers without discriminating against<br />
existing production from renewable feedstock (including primary biomass).<br />
energy targets. In particular, such targets could be achieved through blending mechanisms and the trade of<br />
renewable carbon credits. Updated methodologies are needed to accurately account for carbon, including<br />
biogenic carbon, in European production and imported goods.<br />
5. Promote bio- and CO 2-based content in addition to recycled content in productrelated<br />
legislation<br />
All three renewable carbon sources should be recognised as preferable alternatives to fossil carbon from<br />
the ground. Product-related regulation (both for short- and long-lived products) should provide incentives<br />
1 The use of the term CCU generally refers to the utilisation of carbon dioxide (CO2), but can also include industrial carbon monoxide<br />
(CO) sources prior to flaring or other conversions to CO2 before release to the atmosphere. In the US, CO2 and CO are grouped<br />
together as “carbon oxides” for purposes of Section 45Q CCUS tax credits. In this report, “CO2 utilisation” is meant to also include<br />
for bio- and CO 2-based or -attributed content in parallel to recycled content. Sustainable primary biomass<br />
should be equivalently accepted as a feedstock for meeting these political ambitions. Such an approach in<br />
other carbon oxides.<br />
regulation also ensures industry competitiveness and avoids carbon leakage.<br />
renewable-carbon.eu August <strong>2023</strong><br />
renewable-carbon.eu<br />
August <strong>2023</strong><br />
renewable-carbon.eu<br />
August <strong>2023</strong><br />
Full Manifesto<br />
7. Support the transformation of existing chemical<br />
infrastructure from fossil to renewable carbon and<br />
support the transformation of biofuel plants<br />
The demand for carbon-containing fuels in road transport<br />
is expected to decrease in Europe in the coming decades.<br />
In contrast, the share of chemicals derived from refineries will<br />
increase heavily compared to fuels. This will free up existing<br />
biofuel infrastructure, which should not be left behind. Instead,<br />
the biofuel sector could grab the opportunity to become one<br />
source of raw materials supply for a chemical industry based<br />
on renewable carbon. Investments in production changes are<br />
already taking place; this is a unique opportunity for policymakers<br />
to steer these changes in a sustainable direction and support the<br />
shift to renewable carbon without discriminating against existing<br />
production from renewable feedstock.<br />
You can support the efforts of the RCI<br />
by adding your name to the manifesto.<br />
https://renewable-carbon-initiative.com/call-for-signature-rci-manifesto<br />
bioplastics MAGAZINE | Renewable Carbon Plastics [<strong>05</strong>/23] Vol. 18<br />
11
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