Plastics Without Oil: Key to a Sustainable and Resilient Industry

Carbon is the essential building block of plastics. The German institute Nova expects that the world will use more than one billion tons of carbon in materials by 2050 – a doubling compared to today. Recycling could cover an estimated half of that need. This makes investing in recycling, extending the lifespan of products, and material reduction crucial. For the remaining demand, sustainable bio-based raw materials offer an alternative. Studies by Nova and Wageningen University & Research indicate that there is sufficient sustainable biomass potential available.

At the same time, the chemical sector in the Netherlands is under pressure. Facilities are closing, investments are stagnating, and cheap, non-sustainable imports are putting the market on edge. Employment, expertise, and industrial capacity are at risk of disappearing – especially at a time when Europe is aiming for greater strategic autonomy. While the demand for plastics continues to grow, Europe is losing control over production.

Management

Developing new chemical routes takes time, often decades. Therefore, it makes sense to feed existing facilities, designed for fossil raw materials, with recyclate or bio-based raw materials. This allows factories to remain operational and meet customer demands with familiar materials, but with a more sustainable origin.

At the same time, a new industry is emerging: plastics based on the molecular structure of plant material, known as biopolyesters. In the Netherlands, around thirty start-ups and scale-ups are now working on this technology. This development not only offers sustainability but also an opportunity to regain industrial management and reduce dependence on fossil import flows.

In the production of traditional plastics from biomass, oxygen must be removed from the molecule – an energy-intensive process. Biopolyesters circumvent this step and therefore have a significant energy advantage. A recent study from Wageningen University & Research shows that producing one ton of biopolyester requires 2 to 5 times less biomass than producing biobased PE or PP.

Biopolyesters provide the Netherlands and Europe with the opportunity to become leaders again in chemistry

In addition, biopolyesters offer functional advantages. PEF – developed by Avantium – for example, has better barrier properties than PET, leading to longer shelf life or less material use. Many biopolyesters also biodegrade more quickly and completely in the environment than conventional plastics, contributing to the reduction of plastic pollution and microplastics.

Less raw material and energy use translates into higher productivity and a stronger competitive position. By specifically designing materials for their applications – from packaging to construction materials and textiles – additional value is created. This not only strengthens the ecological but also the economic foundation of the industry.

The market potential is vast: global applications of tens of millions of tons. Platforms such as PEF, PLA, PHA, and bio-resins are finding their way into packaging, medical applications, agriculture, and construction. These new value chains connect agriculture, chemistry, and industry and require close cooperation throughout the entire chain.

This cooperation is already taking shape through initiatives such as the National Growth Fund program BioBased Circular and the European Circular Bio-Based Europe. However, scaling up remains challenging. Biopolyesters are often still more expensive than fossil alternatives and compete with cheap imports.

Anchored

This is why consistent and targeted policy is crucial. Instruments are ready in The Hague and Brussels to stimulate the bio-economy and circularity. It is essential that these also support innovative chemistry. From a sustainability perspective, but also from a strategic standpoint: without its own raw materials and technology, Europe loses its industrial foundation.

Biopolyesters provide the Netherlands and Europe with the opportunity to become leaders again in chemistry – with an industry that is cleaner, more innovative, and more resilient. Less dependent on oil, more anchored in its own raw materials, and better prepared for a world in which geopolitics and raw materials are increasingly intertwined.

This is a repost: Industrielinqs