Conventional chemical production is reliant on fossil-based resources, contributing significantly to global carbon emissions. As the demand for sustainable alternatives grows and regulations tighten, next-generation feedstocks offer a promising path forward. These feedstocks are often derived from renewable waste streams such as lignocellulosic biomass, municipal waste, and captured CO₂. Implementation would reduce dependency on petrochemicals while enabling more circular and lower-emission supply chains.
Lignin valorization, in particular, presents a new opportunity, unlocking high-value applications from a largely untapped by-product of the paper/pulp, agricultural, and wood industries. With innovations in extraction technologies and growing commercial interest, a shift towards sustainable feedstocks and lignin-derived chemicals is expected in the coming years. Breakthroughs in processing, policy support, and scalable business models will be key to realizing this future.
In this 20-minute webinar from IDTechEx, Technology Analyst Thomas Bithell will discuss:
- Conventional chemicals and decarbonization of the chemical industry
- The potential of next-generation feedstocks as resources to produce sustainable chemicals
- Lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for biochemicals: challenges and opportunities
- New applications for lignin valorization enabled by new extraction technologies