The Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) has released a definitive scientific report providing conclusive evidence, renewable carbon-based chemicals and materials significantly outperform fossil-based counterparts in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Conducted by sustainability experts at the nova-Institute and published on January 22, 2026, the study examines eleven peer-reviewed life cycle assessments (LCAs). The findings confirm that market-ready renewable solutions can achieve carbon footprint reductions ranging from 30 per cent to as much as 90 per cent, countering long-standing industry skepticism regarding the real-world climate benefits of alternative feedstocks.

Defossilization as a strategic industrial necessity

While the energy sector can often decarbonize through electrification, carbon-dependent industries such as chemicals and plastics require a different strategy: ‘defossilization.’ Because these sectors rely on carbon as a physical feedstock, the only viable path to net-zero is substituting fossil carbon with renewable sources, including bio-based, CO2-based, and recycled inputs. Fossil resources remain the primary driver of anthropogenic climate change, currently responsible for over 70 per cent of global warming. The RCI report underscores, introducing less additional fossil carbon into the cycle today directly reduces the future financial and technological burden of atmospheric carbon removal.

Transparent metrics drive investment and policy

The core of the report lies in its rigorous methodology, featuring case studies from global industry leaders including BASF, Avantium, Lenzing, and LanzaTech. By subjecting these LCAs to independent, third-party peer review, the RCI ensures a high level of scientific transparency that accounts for process emissions, energy requirements, and production scales. For example, a comparative analysis within the report demonstrates that Avantium’s PEF monolayer and PET/PEF multilayer bottles offer a superior environmental profile compared to traditional fossil-based PET. These data points provide the "solid evidence" required for policymakers to enact mandates and for institutional investors to de-risk the transition toward circular carbon loops.

Industry momentum and the renewable carbon initiative

The Renewable Carbon Initiative is a global coalition of more than 60 prominent companies dedicated to accelerating the transition away from fossil carbon. By focusing on scientific reporting and advocacy, the RCI bridges the gap between theoretical sustainability and industrial application. The group's latest research emphasizes that while alternative pathways are not automatically superior due to potential energy-intensive processes, the current market leaders have already optimized their technologies to deliver significant and verifiable climate gains