The “Bio-based chemicals” cluster consists of sector groups that discuss the conditions to boost the development of sustainable bio-based chemical industries in Europe.
Bio-based chemicals are chemical products that are wholly or partly derived from materials of biological origin (for example plants, algae, crops, trees, marine organisms, biological waste …).
These bio-based chemicals are used in a multitude of applications, such as food, feed, plastics, paints, adhesives, fuels and energy, lubricants, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, detergents, cleaning products and many more.
Several bio-based chemicals have the potential to be used instead of fossil resources (drop-in bio-based chemicals), while others are likely to deliver completely new features and performances (dedicated bio-based chemicals).
Irrespective of their end-use, bio-based chemicals must perform equally to, if not better than, fossil-based chemicals to get market acceptance and comply with the principles of a circular economy, while demonstrating a reduced environmental and, particularly, climate impact.
To achieve the development of bio-based chemicals in Europe, several conditions must be met:
This can only happen in a stable and predictable policy context.
Recently, the Clean Industrial Deal announced a Bioeconomy Strategy to improve resource efficiency and to “tap the significant growth potential of bio-based materials substituting fossil-based materials, and related industries.”
In an open letter to the European Commission, Cefic and its Sector Groups active in the bioeconomy call for the upcoming Bioeconomy Strategy to be elevated into a fully-fledged industrial strategy for Europe.
=> read the full article
Open letter on the role of biobased chemicals to boost Europe’s competitiveness and resilience
