1. NNFCC
The UK’s National Centre for Biorenewable
Energy, Fuels and Materials
Newsletter 24 Spring 2012
Sustainability Special Issue
U
How sustainable are bioplastics?
The global market for bioplastics is expected to triple by 2015 to be worth more than $2.9 billion but
manufacturers and brands are increasingly being judged on how they manage the land.
nsustainable sources of plastics, but what impact will the sustainable resources.
bioenergy and biofuels are growing market have on land use
fast becoming obsolete in dynamics around the globe? Using conservative estimates we
the UK and across Europe. project that a little over 45 per cent
Socially and environmentally of land available for sustainable
Even sustainable sources are
aware businesses understand cultivation will remain once
feeling the pinch, as tighter
that we must manage the land biofuels, bioenergy and bioplastics
regulations usher in a new era,
appropriately, prioritising what markets are accounted for.
where only the most sustainable
remains after land needed for food,
energy and fuels can benefit from However, under more intensive
feed and ecosystem services have
government subsidies. growth in demand for biofuels,
been removed from the equation.
But what is driving the bioplastics bioenergy and bioplastics we could
market towards more sustainable Estimates suggest this will leave exceed the amount of available
practices and sources of biomass? between 250 and 800 million land by more than 12 per cent.
hectares of ‘sustainable’ land
Unlike bioenergy and biofuels we So it has never been more crucial
available for other uses.
have no renewable alternative to to find ways to sustainably use
bioplastics but also no mandated If we compare this to the expected the ground beneath our feet.
requirements for sustainability. demand for bioplastics by 2050 Thankfully there are solutions and
Evidence shows that bioplastics this seems like a drop in the ocean. in this newsletter you will discover
significantly reduce greenhouse gas However, bioenergy and biofuels some of the innovative ways
emissions compared to oil-derived will also be competing for these industry is tackling this problem.

2. L
1200
Land use availability; 2030-2050
and availability for biomass crops is not
Bioenergy and Biofuels
only an issue of great future significance
1000 Bioplastics
it is already hugely important. Competition
for land can drive unsustainable practices and
Upper maximum amount of sustainable land
Land required, millions of hectares
800
it is in the best interests of the industry to
address these issues now. 600
Our scenarios show that we may exceed
the amount of sustainable land available by
2050 if bioenergy, biofuels and bioplastics
400
development is higher than expected. We
Lower maximum amount of sustainable land
must learn to use our resources better, utilise
200
more non-food feedstocks and push policies
towards sectors with limited alternatives.
0
Low Medium High Low Medium High
B
Making more with less Biorefining: Model for a
circular economy
iorefineries represent a promising option for
reducing land use requirements. By integrating
fuel, feed and chemical production we can maximise
resource use efficiency.
A new report for the International Energy
U
Agency written by agricultural, energy and
chemical industry experts including NNFCC,
highlights the growing importance of biorefineries
to the low carbon economy.
sing our existing resources better could go a long
way to reducing land demands. We can minimise The report showed the market has reached a tipping
competition for land by increasing its productivity. point and drop-in bio-based chemicals are on the
brink of strong expansion. Platform bio-based
Improved breeding will increase the productivity of chemicals are also expected to grow substantially
crops, particularly non-food crops, like willow and over the next five years, which should also be a huge
Miscanthus, which have been largely uncultivated. boost for the cost effective production of biofuels.
An annual yield increase of just 2 per cent would
double production volumes by 2050 without
any land expansion.
We can also use these feedstocks better. For example,
we can produce 3.1 tonnes of polyethylene from a
hectare of brazilian sugar cane but the same hectare
of brazilian sugar cane can make 7.9 tonnes of
polylactic acid. Both are used in the production of
bioplastics that offer similar functionality.
I
Energy markets could also benefit from adopting
more efficient practices. In the UK, co-firing of coal
Consultancy at NNFCC
and wood is an efficient way to make electricity but nterested in sustainability? Then
this may not be the best use of our resources. get in touch with us. We offer
industry leading technical consultancy
Technological advances in fermentation, gasification
including;
and pyrolysis, have made it possible to convert
biomass into electricity, heat, fuels and chemicals at • Future market analysis
high conversion efficiencies. • Feedstock sustainability appraisal
This approach also allows us to make better use of • Life cycle assessment interpretation
non-food feedstocks such as wood, algae, household Contact Dr Adrian Higson, Head of Biorefining for
rubbish and agricultural residues. more information.

3. F
Industry News
Update on the Renewable Heat Incentive
ollowing difficulties controlling Premium Payments (RHPP) for
the Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) budget, domestic users is being extended
the UK Government launched a with a new £25 million budget:
consultation on interim cost control £10m for social landlords, £8m
for the Renewable Heat Incentive for community projects and
(RHI). Cost control measures would £7m for extending the existing
only take affect in the unlikely scheme. But what impact this will
event that the RHI budget is spent have is unknown, as the scheme
within the next 12 months. The has been undersubscribed with
consultation closed on 23rd of April. only £4.8m of vouchers allocated
to households so far. Potential
The other major renewable heat applicants can pre-register with
news is that Renewable Heat the Energy Savings Trust now.
F
Is PEF the new PET?
ollowing its agreement to work terephthalate (PET). Avantium either be recycled separately or in
with Coca-Cola last year, argue that PEF offers improved existing PET streams.
renewable chemicals company functionality over PET and can
Avantium have now signed a joint Avantium opened its pilot plant in
venture agreement to develop plant- the Netherlands in 2011, which has
based polyethylene furanoate (PEF) the capacity to produce 40 tonnes
bottles with Danone – makers of of PEF for application development.
evian and volvic – and number two The company plans to begin
in the global bottled water business. commercial production in 2015.
The move is significant, not least of Avantium hopes to license its YXY
all because it could herald a move technology to enable large scale
away from widely-used polyethylene production and use of PEF.
I
Interview
Dr Alena Buyx, Assistant Director at Nuffield Council on Bioethics
n each issue of the NNFCC more could be done to ensure that
Newsletter we feature an expert all biofuels imported into Europe
Yes - there is
biofuels?
voice in the field of biorenewables (not just those supplied within the
EU) offer greenhouse gas emissions the danger
who will give their opinion on the
savings throughout their whole that the use of
latest developments in the field.
production lifecycle, from ‘field-to- comprehensive
In this issue, we talk exclusively to
tank’. A common methodology for sustainability criteria could unfairly
Dr Alena Buyx from the Nuffield
comprehensive life cycle assessment inhibit biofuels development,
Council on Bioethics about the role
is necessary. while other agricultural, energy
of biofuels in global land use change.
generation or trade practices
We also recommend that research continue to operate in an
and development of new biofuels unsustainable and unethical way.
Can biofuels play a role in
technologies such as advanced Setting similar sustainability criteria
We believe that if they are produced breeding strategies and genetic
mitigating climate change?
for all comparable technologies
in an ethical and sustainable way, improvement of energy crops and products would constitute
biofuels could have a significant that need less land and fertiliser an important step towards the
role to play in climate change to grow and could further reduce development of the wider policy
mitigation and energy security by greenhouse gas emissions, should context that is needed to tackle the
reducing fossil fuel consumption. be incentivised. enormous challenges of the future.
However, the extent to which they
currently contribute to a reduction
in greenhouse gas emissions
Should sustainability principles To read the complete interview visit
remains uncertain. We think that
be applied to all related products the NNFCC website; www.nnfcc.co.uk/
and technologies, not just news/nuffield-interview

4. NNFCC Events NNFCC Membership
Following the success Join hundreds of other
of last year’s Life Cycle industry professionals and
Assessment (LCA) become a member of NNFCC.
workshop series,
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Energy are pleased business membership
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their applications. Receive access to our reports,
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The first workshop covers the principles of LCA, conference discounts, free consultancy, a place in our
requirements, problems and issues. The second new business directory and much more.
provides a ‘hands on’ opportunity to learn to carry
out an LCA. The workshops can be taken together or Membership runs from 01 April 2012 to 31 March
separately. 2013, so sign up now to get the most benefit.
For more information visit www.nnfcc.co.uk/events/ To join simply complete the online registration form
new-partnership-providing-lca-workshops at www.nnfcc.co.uk/join_form
NNFCC
The UK’s National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials
NNFCC, Biocentre, Phone: +44 (0)1904 435182
York Science Park, Fax: +44 (0)1904 435345
Innovation Way, E: enquiries@nnfcc.co.uk
Heslington, York, Web: www.nnfcc.co.uk
YO10 5DG.