Reducing the use of fossil carbon and the output of greenhouse gas emissions are undoubtedly among the greatest challenges for society and industry in this century.  The U.S. Administration, via the Inflation Reduction Act, is putting forward regulatory measures calling for more sustainable solutions that contribute to climate neutrality, the circular economy, and the use of hazard-free substances.

One viable solution available to the chemical industry is using renewable raw materials. There are first developments emerging of a new range of raw materials for the American market based on renewable raw materials and originating from a segregated supply chain. These products are almost identical to fossil-based raw materials; yet they provide a carbon emission savings in comparison to the conventional counterpart, enabling the reduction of Scope 3 emissions in the supply chain.

Nonetheless, it is not sufficient to only develop bio-based solutions for the sake of fossil replacement. Therefore, the second generation of bio-based surfactants provides the properties that the coatings market requires: raw materials from 2nd-generation feedstock (non-competing with food and feed) and raw materials that are suitable for the use of food-related applications, such as printing inks, packaging etc. While the market clearly recognizes the need for sustainable raw materials, the transfer from fossil to bio-based products has slowed down due to economic difficulties, political uncertainty, and the lack of regulatory homogenization. Customers still do not trust bio-based solutions yet due to missing clarity or understanding. Therefore, third-party certification such as USDA BioPreferred will be crucial for providing the necessary transparency as well as providing proof of concept.

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