Page 185 - CW E-Magazine (28-11-2023)

Special Report

Other gases Sugar Lignocellulosic
CO 2 (CH , CO , etc Vegetable oils (i.e. from corn Light
4 2 sugarcane biomass

Electro Chemical Microbial
chemistry refinement Photosynthesis fermentation

Chemicals Polymers

Source: IDTechEx.
Bio-based feedstocks for sustainable goal that requires continued techno- commodity bio-based plastics, like
polymers: CO , bacteria, and more logy development, government support, polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
2
Shifting away from petroleum- and investments to make possible; for polyethylene (PE), etc., as well as more
derived feedstocks for plastic produc- example, to the latter point, the US novel plastics like polyethylene fura-
tion towards bio-based feedstocks is of government announced in 2023 that noate (PEF), are relatively well-deve-
the highest priority to make the polymer they plan to invest $100-mn in car- loped; however, critical issues affecting
industry more sustainable. One of the bon utilisation projects. Other issues their cost-competitiveness that subse-
most interesting feedstocks is CO ; the to address are the need for affordable quently affect the scale of production
2
rise of carbon capture and utilization and abundant sources of captured CO have kept their presence in the overall
2
(CCU) technologies would enable CO to meet industry demand and how to plastics market quite limited.
2
captured from industrial point sources or achieve cost-competitiveness with
ambient air to be used as a carbon source petroleum-based incumbents. Still, this With governments forcing brands
for chemical and polymer production. is a key area to watch, as the pros- and retailers to have increasing
pect of utilising CO is bringing many amounts of bio-based content in their
2
These technologies, as discussed in notable materials and chemical players products and bioplastics manufactu-
IDTechEx’s ‘Carbon Dioxide Utiliza- to the table. rers scaling production rapidly to meet
tion 2022-2042: Technologies, Market that demand, IDTechEx expects the
Forecasts, and Players’ report, have the Other bio-based feedstocks, like bioplastic industry to grow by 10.1%
potential to turn polymer production corn sugar, vegetable oil, or ligno- CAGR over the coming decade.
from a carbon-polluting industry into a cellulosic biomass, used in bioplastic
carbon-negative industry that helps to production are also receiving increasing Alongside the more straightfor-
decrease the impact of CO emissions interest. ward replacements to petroleum-
2
in the atmosphere. derived commodity plastics in the
The technologies that enable the bioplastics market are the innovative
Of course, this is a lofty long-term conversion of these feedstocks into plastics looking to carve their own

Chemical Weekly November 28, 2023 185

Contents Index to Advertisers Index to Products Advertised