The Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) has published an extended second version of its latest report, presenting eleven peer-reviewed lifecycle assessment (LCA) case studies that examine the carbon footprint of materials and products made from renewable carbon compared with fossil-based alternatives.
The case studies represent what RCI describes as the highest possible scientific standard and have all been peer-reviewed by external, independent experts. They assess products developed by RCI members Avantium (Netherlands), BASF (Germany), Braskem (United States), Econic (United Kingdom), Fibenol (Estonia), IFF (United States), LanzaTech (United States), Lenzing (Austria), Neste (Finland), Peter Greven (Germany) and Primient Covation (United States).
According to the report, the carbon footprint of chemicals and materials has become one of the most critical indicators at a time when the United Nations continues to issue “Code Red” warnings on climate change. Fossil resources are identified as the primary driver of human-induced climate change, accounting for more than 70% of global warming. While sectors such as energy can decarbonise by shifting away from fossil fuels, carbon-dependent industries face a different challenge.
For the chemical and materials sectors, carbon is an essential feedstock that cannot be eliminated. Instead, the report argues that defossilisation is required to prevent further influxes of fossil carbon into industrial carbon cycles and the atmosphere. This involves replacing fossil feedstocks with renewable carbon sources, including bio-based, CO₂-based and recycled carbon.
However, the report also stresses that alternative production pathways cannot be assumed to be automatically better for the climate. Transparent and robust evaluation is required, taking into account process emissions, energy demand and current production scales. Without this, claims of environmental superiority risk being misleading.
The eleven peer-reviewed LCAs presented in the report provide what RCI describes as conclusive proof that renewable carbon products already available on the market can deliver substantial greenhouse gas reductions. Across the case studies, GHG savings range from 30% to as much as 90% when compared with fossil-based counterparts. The findings also indicate that, as technologies mature and scale up, there is significant potential for further emission reductions in the future.
RCI said the evidence base created by the report is intended to inform both policy-makers and investors, countering concerns that the climate benefits of renewable carbon remain theoretical. A central conclusion is that reducing the introduction of additional fossil carbon today will lessen the future reliance on costly atmospheric carbon removal technologies.
By enabling more circular carbon loops, the report concludes that renewable carbon feedstocks already represent a proven and viable pathway for defossilising chemical industries in line with global climate targets.
RCI report shows renewable carbon cuts emissions up to 90%
