[pageLogInLogOut]

#Research & Development

1 Gt of fossil carbon per year to be replaced by renewable carbon from biomass, CO2 and recycling

The upcoming Renewable Materials Conference, 23-25 May in Siegburg/Cologne (Germany) promises to be a one-of-a-kind event that provides a platform for showcasing the impressive achievements in the field of renewable materials. The conference will bring together experts, stakeholders, and industry leaders to discuss latest developments and share their visions and strategies for the future.

Although experts project lower growth rates for the chemical and plastics industries in the coming decades, global demand for embedded carbon – the carbon in molecules – is expected to increase significantly to 1.15 Gt of carbon per year by 2050. Today, approximately 88% of embedded carbon comes from fossil feedstocks, including oil, natural gas and coal. To achieve a fully defossilised economy, this demand must be met exclusively by renewable carbon sources. And there only are three sources of renewable carbon: biomass, the direct use of CO2 and the recycling of carbon already in our technosphere.

Renewable Materials Conference 2023

Set to take place from 23-25 May 2023, the Renewable Materials Conference brings together the brightest stars of the renewable materials sector in Siegburg/Cologne (Germany). More than 500 participants are expected to attend the meeting point for global leaders in industry, science, and politics. With the unique concept of uniting all renewable materials solutions at one event hits the mark: “The Renewable Materials Conference has established itself as one of the most important conferences for renewable materials worldwide,” says Michael Carus, CEO of nova-Institute and spokesperson for the event. “We are proud to bring together global leaders in industry, science, and politics to shape the future of renewable materials and create a more sustainable world for generations to come.”

© 2023 nova institute
© 2023 nova institute


All information and registration for the event is available at: http://www.renewable-materials.eu

Top speakers from world-renowned companies, pioneering start-ups, high-profile research and politics will present and discuss a diverse range of innovative solutions based on biomass, CO2 and recycling in 80 presentations (main and parallel sessions), 20 panel discussions and several expert workshops. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the innovative technologies and solutions that are driving progress in renewable materials, and will learn about the latest trends and emerging opportunities.

More than 40 top-class exhibitors are expected at a new and perfectly suited location – the conference center “Rhein Sieg Forum” in Siegburg near Bonn and Cologne (Germany), easily accessible by high-speed train (ICI) from Brussels or Frankfurt, for example. A matchmaking area throughout the three days, long lunch breaks and three evening meeting points guarantee comprehensive and effective networking. Online networking starts two weeks before the event.

With a focus on collaborative efforts and knowledge-sharing, the conference will provide a platform for attendees to engage in productive discussions and forge new partnerships. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the current state of renewable materials and a clear sense of the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.

Join us at the Renewable Materials Conference in Siegburg/Cologne, Germany from May 23-25, 2023, and be a part of the movement towards a more sustainable chemical, material and plastics industry.

Six Materials Nominated for the Innovation Award “Renewable Material of the Year 2023”

New materials will enable sustainable products in areas such as textiles, cosmetics, packaging, as well as elastic and biodegradable materials for a variety of applications. Participants will vote for the winners.

One way to overcome the industry’s dependence on fossil carbon is to replace crude oil and natural gas with renewable carbon within the existing structures of the chemical industry. Other ways require innovation, the development of new processes, building blocks and materials. This means a new way of thinking about chemistry and materials. Ready-to-use, fossil-free, sustainable material solutions with a low carbon footprint are in rapidly growing demand. Innovative brand owners are looking for such solutions, especially those that will soon become mainstream.



With the innovation award “Renewable Material of the Year 2023”, nova-Institute, as organiser, and Covestro, as sponsor, aim to recognise particularly exciting and promising solutions that contribute to replacing fossil carbon from the ground. The call for submissions was answered by 30 companies. The advisory board and the nova experts had a hard time selecting the six most exciting and nominating them for the award.

On the second day of the conference, the nominated companies will present their products and all 500+ conference participants will vote for the three winners on site and online. An exciting competition for you to be a part of.

All information here: https://renewable-materials.eu/award-application/

Sponsoring, Exhibition and Company Events

The innovation award is sponsored by Covestro (DE), Platinum Sponsor is UPM Biochemicals (FI). Many thanks to our Gold Sponsors Alfa Laval (SE), CovationBio (US), GS Biotech (CN), iff (US), NESTE (FI), Sappi (NL/ZA), TUEV Austria (AT), Sugar Energy (CN) as well as our Bronze sponsors BASF (DE), DIN CERTCO (DE), FKuR (DE), GEA (DE), Heraeus (DE) and Sulzer (CH). Finally, we thank Borealis (AT) as the conference beer-on-tap sponsor.

© 2023 nova institute
© 2023 nova institute


Partners

The Renewable Materials Conference is supported by industry and trade associations, non- profit organisations, research institutions and interest groups that are thematically linked to the conference: AVK (DE), BBIA (UK), BCNP Consultants (DE), C.A.R.M.E.N. (DE), CLIB – Cluster Industrial Biotechnology (DE), EEN - Enterprise Europe/Zenit (EU) European Bioplastics (EU), FNR – Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (DE), GO!PHA (International), In4Climate.NRW (DE), IBB – Industrielle Biotechnologie Bayern Netzwerk (DE), ITA – Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen (DE), kunststoffland NRW (DE), ÖGUT – Österreichische Gesellschaft für Umwelt und Technik (AT), Plastics Europe (DE) and Renewable Carbon Initiative (International).



More News from TEXDATA International

#ITM 2026

ITM 2026: The new geography of textile production

New production hubs are emerging across North Africa and Central Asia, while Türkiye is accelerating its transformation toward higher-value, technology-driven and more sustainable textile manufacturing.

#Research & Development

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

#Knitting & Hosiery

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

#Associations

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

More News on Research & Development

#Research & Development

180 years of TESTEX: From Zurich silk testing to global certification

For 180 years, TESTEX has developed alongside the textile industry while maintaining the same underlying purpose: creating trust through independent and reliable measurement. Founded in Zurich in 1846 as the Zurich Silk Conditioning Institute, TESTEX has grown from a local institution serving the silk trade into an international Swiss testing and certification institute for textiles and leather.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Moving Advanced Recycling from Innovation to Implementation

The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 explores technologies, markets, financing and scale-up of innovative recycling solutions for waste streams including mixed plastic waste, textiles and PVC. Europe’s chemical and materials sector faces growing pressure to close carbon loops, strengthen raw-material safety and resilience and meet increasingly ambitious EU recycling targets. Against this backdrop, the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) will bring together industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, innovators and policy-makers on 17–18 November 2026 in Cologne, Germany.

#Research & Development

Reducing development times for technical textiles by accelerated thermo-oxidative aging in a high-pressure autoclave

Synthetic polymers used in technical textiles can be effectively protected against degradation caused by heat, oxygen, and water through the use of stabilizer systems. This enables service lives of several decades, extending to more than 50 years. As the use of durable technical textiles continues to grow, so does the demand for reliable methods to predict their service life within economically feasible testing periods. For the first time the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) developed methods for robust service life prediction for textiles in an IGF research project.

#Research & Development

ITA has developed a washable digital smart jacket with real-time feedback and an AI-powered app for rehabilitation

As part of the PhysioTaix research project, the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University is developing a digital smart jacket with integrated sensors. The jacket is washable and reusable; it tracks movements during rehabilitation exercises in real time and transmits the data to an app.

Latest News

#Associations

German textile industry and retailers form alliance to shape textile EPR system

Germany’s textile and fashion industry and retail sector have joined forces to establish the “Alliance for Textile Circularity” (Allianz für textile Kreisläufe). Initiated by the German Textile and Fashion Industry Association (Gesamtverband textil+mode) and the German Retail Federation (HDE), the alliance aims to contribute industry expertise to the development of Germany’s future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for textiles and footwear.

#Sustainability

Cascale launches member-led process to shape 2030 strategy

Cascale has launched a member-led process to define the industry alliance’s strategic direction for the next decade. At the Cascale Annual Meeting 2026 in Athens, CEO Ying McGuire announced that members will contribute to an industry system map that will inform Cascale’s 10-year vision, its 2030 strategy and priorities for 2027. The new strategy is scheduled to be finalized in December.

#Functional Fabrics

PERFORMANCE DAYS introduces Digital Design Journey with CLO and VIZOO

PERFORMANCE DAYS will introduce a new Digital Design Journey at its upcoming edition in Munich, connecting physical fabric sourcing with 3D product development. Supported by CLO and VIZOO, the installation will demonstrate how real performance fabrics can be digitized and incorporated into virtual garment development workflows.

#Nonwovens

INDA hires Ben Muller as executive director

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced that Ben Muller has joined the association as executive director. Muller brings more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning nonprofit organizations, corporations and trade associations.

TOP