Study shows sus­tain­able bio­mass offers huge poten­tial to sig­ni­fic­antly defos­sil­ise the EU’s chem­ic­als and derived mater­i­als industry by 2050

BIC (Bio-based Indus­tries Con­sor­ti­um) and the Renew­able Car­bon Ini­ti­at­ive (RCI) have jointly com­mis­sioned research from the nova Insti­tute, invest­ig­at­ing the ques­tion of wheth­er there is enough sus­tain­ably-sourced bio­mass to defos­sil­ise the chem­ic­als and derived mater­i­als sec­tor by 2050. 

The report demon­strates that agri­cul­tur­al and woody bio­mass can be sus­tain­ably sup­plied to meet at least 20% of the future car­bon demand of the chem­ic­al and mater­i­als indus­tries in 2050, up from 5.5% (EU27) and 10% (glob­al) in 2023.

This report high­lights that:

Bio­mass accel­er­ates the de-fos­sil­isa­tion of the chem­ic­als and derived mater­i­als sec­tor: The chem­ic­als and derived mater­i­als sec­tor relies on fossil car­bon (oil, nat­ur­al gas, and coal) for 90 – 95% of its needs. By 2050, the bio-based industry can meet 20% of this demand, sup­port­ing a more com­pet­it­ive, sus­tain­able, and cir­cu­lar economy.

BIC is offer­ing a roadmap for this trans­ition: The study com­mis­sioned by BIC and RCI provides a clear frame­work to scale bio­mass, drive innov­a­tion, shape policies, and advance sustainability.

The bio-based industry can lead the change: Poli­cy­makers have a major oppor­tun­ity to strengthen Europe’s glob­al com­pet­it­ive­ness and stra­tegic autonomy by sup­port­ing the bio-based indus­tri­al eco­sys­tem. The industry is European, com­pet­it­ive, and ready to sup­port indus­tri­al and cli­mate goals.

BIC Exec­ut­ive Dir­ect­or Dirk Car­rez says, ​“The bio-based industry can sig­ni­fic­antly con­trib­ute to the changes needed for a com­pet­it­ive, sus­tain­able, cir­cu­lar chem­ic­als and mater­i­als sec­tor by 2050. Sourcing suf­fi­cient bio­mass will be a key ele­ment for this trans­form­a­tion. This report offers a com­pre­hens­ive frame­work to scale bio­mass sup­ply, foster tech­no­lo­gic­al innov­a­tion, pro­mote rur­al devel­op­ment, shape impact­ful policies, and advance sus­tain­able prac­tices in the chem­ic­als and mater­i­als sec­tor, ulti­mately enhan­cing both industry and European competitiveness.”

The full report is avail­able here.