Launch of report exploring the role of biomass in defossilising the chemicals sector

The Supergen Bioenergy Hub together with the Biomass Biorefinery Network (BBNet) have published a new report exploring the role for biomass in displacing petrochemicals and their associated emissions.

Carbon for Chemicals: How can biomass contribute to the defossilisation of the chemicals sector? was authored by our Biomass Policy Fellow, Joanna Sparks, with contributions from many partners of BBNet and Supergen.

We launched the report at a webinar attended by more than 120 people on 7 August. The webinar featured an introduction from our Director, Patricia Thornley, an overview of the report and its recommendations presented by Joanna Sparks, and a panel discussion bringing in Jason Hallett from Imperial College London and David Bott from the Society of Chemical Industry, chaired by Director of BBNet, Neil Bruce.

About the report

Many products in modern society contain carbon. Pharmaceuticals, plastics, textiles, food additives, cosmetics, and cleaning products contain organic, carbon-based chemicals. These chemicals are derived from fossil feedstocks (i.e., they are petrochemicals), contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Carbon is embedded in organic chemical products and released when they break down at end-of-life, for example, through incineration.

While demand for fossil fuels in energy is expected to fall in the coming decades, the petrochemicals sector is set to grow significantly. Yet the climate impact of carbon-based chemicals has yet to receive significant attention. To fully address the emissions associated with the chemical system, including those stemming from the carbon in chemicals, systemic change will be required, including moving to a more circular economy, managing supply and demand levels, and transitioning away from fossil feedstocks. Carbon-based chemicals cannot be decarbonised but can be defossilised through a transition to renewable carbon sources such as biomass, recycled carbon, and carbon dioxide.

This report presents evidence on bio-based chemicals and materials, to improve understanding, support policy development, and identify evidence gaps and areas where further research is required.