For the first time, SBTi’s latest draft consultation includes requirements for companies to set alternative feedstock targets for CCU, bio-based and chemical recycling – in line with RCI’s renewable carbon concept
Hürth, 1 July 2024: The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi, sciencebasedtargets.org) provides
companies with a science-based methodology for setting CO2 targets that are consistent with limiting
global warming to 1.5°C. SBTi is a collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the
United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for
Nature (WWF). To date, SBTi has over 8,000 companies taking action – 50% from Europe – and over
5,500 companies with validated targets. This represents over a third of global market capitalisation. In
addition to its generic cross-sector methodologies, SBTi is also developing sector-specific guidance for
companies in high emitting industries.
In May 2024, SBTi published an open consultation on the draft Chemicals Sector Guidance, seeking
feedback from external stakeholders and industry experts. As part of this guidance, they developed, for
the first time, sector-specific non-emissions metrics to incentivise a shift from fossil-based feedstocks to
the three alternative carbon feedstocks: bio-based, chemically recycled carbon and CCU-based
including direct air capture (DAC). This approach does not include mechanical recycling of plastics, as
this is considered a demand reduction lever outside the scope of the chemicals sector. Mechanically
recycled plastics cannot be used as a feedstock for the chemical industry, but only for the plastics sector.
The alternative feedstock targets apply to companies that purchase and use carbon-based materials for
the manufacture of (chemical) products. The target methodology will set a minimum expectation for the
total percentage of carbon feedstocks from an alternative source in the target year. This target will not
replace Scope 3 emissions targets to ensure that emissions do not increase due to feedstock switching.
Companies will be encouraged to set more ambitious targets to reflect their transition strategies.
The Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI, renewable-carbon-initiative.com) strongly welcomes the SBTi’s
new draft to include the substitution of embedded fossil carbon in chemicals and derived products with
alternative or renewable carbon sources in its future methodology. The SBTi is a significant force in
shaping the directionof industries, and the Chemicals Sector Guidance highlights that the transformation
to net zero will also require renewable carbon. Consequently, the RCI believes that this guidance could
have a strong impact on the defossilisation of the chemical industry and accelerate the adoption of
alternative, renewable feedstocks, and aim to support it through targeted input and feedback on specific
aspects.
RCI has introduced the concept of Renewable Carbon to develop common strategies for biomass, CCU
and recycling in 2020 – the only three carbon sources that avoid the extraction of fossil carbon from the
ground, which ultimately ends up in the atmosphere.