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