#Sustainability

2026-03-05

The nova-Institute establishes new Renewable Feedstock Department to lay the groundwork for industrial defossilisation

The transition from fossil-based to renewable carbon – sourced from biomass, CO₂ utilisation and recycling – is the cornerstone of a climate-neutral chemical industry. The nova-Institute’s new department is dedicated to providing the essential data, analyses and strategic roadmaps required to secure a reliable future feedstock supply and make this transition a commercial and ecological reality.

A holistic approach to the carbon feedstock revolution

The Renewable Feedstock department will offer comprehensive services covering the entire value chain, including:

Feedstock Supply & Analysis: Assessing the global and regional availability of all renewable carbon streams to build a robust foundation for the industry. This includes detailed potential analyses of biomass (sugar crops, starch crops, plant oils, lignocellulose, organic waste), CO₂ sources (biogenic and fossil point sources, Direct Air Capture), and recycled carbon (plastic waste, biogenic waste, municipal solid waste).

Market and system transformation: Conducting Material & Carbon Flow Analysis (MFA) to map the carbon economy, alongside market and cost analysis for renewable feedstocks and derived chemicals. A key service are feedstock transition & transformation pathways from specific feedstocks to key chemicals and polymers, supported by technology and innovation scouting for emerging conversion processes.

Strategic advisory services for supply chain resilience: Providing actionable insights on feedstock demand & competition, strategic sourcing, and comprehensive carbon footprint and sustainability assessments for feedstocks. To complete the holistic picture, additional support in regards to policy & regulatory impact analysis and guidance on certification of feedstocks to navigate the evolving legislative landscape.

“The mission of the renewable feedstock department is to shift the focus from ‘why’ to ‘how’, providing the concrete feedstock intelligence that businesses and policymakers urgently require to make significant strides towards defossilisation.” says Christopher vom Berg, Head of the Renewable Feedstock department.

The new department brings together a multidisciplinary team that combines deep scientific and economic expertise. It consists of physicist and nova-Institute founder Michael Carus, biologist Anke Schwarzenberger, agricultural economist Olaf Porc, and psychologist Verena Roberts, ensuring that the department’s work is rooted in both technical rigour and an understanding of market dynamics.

For more information, please contact Christopher vom Berg, Head of Renewable Feedstock Department: christopher.vomberg@nova-institut.de

The updated poster on biodegradable Polymers in various environments has been released

As part of the PerPlacsBio project, nova-Institute has updated its popular poster on the biodegradability of polymers in different environments. The updated version reflects current standards, certifications and the latest scientific findings. The poster can be used to assess biodegradable alternatives for use in agriculture and forestry, and it is now available in German for the first time.

Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 to showcase innovations – Call for abstracts

The call for abstracts is now open for the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) 2026, taking place on 17–18 November 2026 in Cologne, Germany, and online. Europe’s leading platform for advanced recycling brings together hands-on solutions and cutting-edge research on recycling technologies for various waste streams like plastics, polymers, textiles or automotive, highlighting progress towards a circular renewable carbon economy.

AI Circular Economy Conference 2026 fuels innovation at the intersection of AI and Circular Economy

The AI Circular Economy Conference 2026, organised by nova-Institute, brought together 116 participants from 15 countries in Cologne and online to explore the transformation of the chemical and materials industry supported and accelerated by artificial intelligence. During the two-day event, leading experts from industry, research, start-ups and the investment community discussed how AI can maximise the potential of renewable carbon creating efficient circular value chains. The conference featured 24 presentations and multiple panel discussions, highlighting the growing convergence of digital technologies and circular material systems. It demonstrated how artificial intelligence is progressing from the experimental stage to real industrial implementation within the circular economy.

Pioneer of the first hour: Michael Carus steps down after more than 30 years from nova-Institute’s Management

After more than three decades at the helm, founder and CEO Michael Carus is set to step down as head of the Renewable Carbon division on 1 March 2026. Lars Börger as the new CEO, will take over this key position of the nova-Institute together with COO Linda Engel, while Carus will remain with the research and consulting company as a senior advisor and shareholder. This change takes place after a one-year transition phase, as planned.

Updated supply chain taxonomy advances apparel alignment

The apparel alliance (Apparel Impact Institute, Cascale, Textile Exchange, and ZDHC Foundation) today announced the launch of Version 2 of the Supply Chain Taxonomy, an updated harmonized framework designed to improve consistency, transparency, and collaboration across the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear (TCLF) sectors of the broader apparel industry.

EU ban on destroying unsold clothing and footwear now in force

The European Union's ban on the destruction of unsold clothing, clothing accessories and footwear has entered into force. Since July 19, 2026, large companies across the EU have been prohibited from destroying unsold textile products, while medium-sized companies will be required to comply with the same rules from 2030.

Eastman Naia™ brings its inside-out denim vision to Kingpins New York

Following its debut at Kingpins Amsterdam, Eastman Naia™ brings the next chapter of its denim story to Kingpins New York, taking place July 22–23. At Booth Green 7, Naia™ presents its denim proposition built around three complementary design directions: Performance Denim, Fashion Denim and Authentic Denim.