Decarbonisation and the search for sustainable feedstocks for the future of chemicals and plastics production is a top priority for the industry. In fact, most major players & consumer brands have set significant targets and pursuing novel approaches to reduce their carbon footprint across the value chain. In addition, regulators are also pushing for sustainability through initiatives such as the European Green Deal. Coupled with rising energy cost, there is an urgency to phase out fossil-based chemical feedstocks and transition to renewables and build up supplies of sustainable feedstocks. However, the main challenge is locating and securing alternative feedstocks. There are limited sources of carbon in a world without fossil fuels: CO2 capture, recycled materials, and bio-based renewables. However, by 2050, the amount of plastic produced globally is predicted to quadruple, from 400 to 1200 million tonnes. While bio-based chemicals are important, recycled plastics are estimated to make up to 750 million tonnes. Companies are racing to invest in new technology to utilise these sustainable feedstocks including carbon capture and utilization, biomass, corn, sugarcane, beet, industrial hemp, plastic waste stream, algae and many others. What problems does the chemical industry experience when processing alternative sustainable feedstocks? Shell Chemicals Park Moerdijk Accelerates Transition To Become Net Zero Emissions And Produce More Sustainable Chemicals. 13/7/22, www.shell.com TotalEnergies and Indaver sign an offtake agreement for petrochemical feedstock from advanced recycling. 13/10/22, www.indaver.com Eni starts exporting vegetable oil for biorefining from Kenya. 13/10/22, www.biodieselmagazine.com Dow commits to accelerating the circular ecosystem by transforming waste and alternative feedstock to deliver 3 million metric tons per year of circular and renewable solutions by 2030. 17/10/22, www.corporate.dow.com CJ Biomaterials and NatureWorks work on developing new bioplastics. 15/11/22, www.ptonline.com
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