While the economy is still waiting for recovery the EU is sending strong and clear signals on how competitiveness and the transition away from fossil-based materials will go hand in hand the coming years. The newly announced Clean Industrial Deal underscores that decarbonization and circularity are not only environmental imperatives but also key to securing Europe’s industrial leadership.
The upcoming months and years will provide a string of legislative proposals to bring to life the ambition of a competitive, circular economy. For the chemical industry, the late arrival to the sustainability party, will make the shift rather abrupt. Apart from revisions of REACH, the Bioeconomy Strategy and a complete chemical package there are new regulations incoming on procurement policies, new support systems to boost sustainable production methods and – most disruptive – mandates for the use of new raw materials, such as bio-based and recycled feedstocks.
This will boost the demand for sustainable alternatives even further and there will be a scramble for the still limited available volumes of fossil-free chemicals. When looking at a calendar for legislative proposal they might sometimes seem far away, but they are actually not. The announcements made from the EU should securing new, fossil-free raw materials front and center at every procurement department in Europe. There is simply no time to waste.
The sustainable chemical train is fully loaded and about to leave the platform. It’s high time to get on board.
Lena Nordgren
Public Affairs Specialist
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