From Policy and Technologies to Practice: Twelve Interactive Expert Workshops at the Renewable Materials Conference 2025
Alongside the main conference programme this year, the Renewable Materials Conference will feature a wide range of in-depth knowledge exchange workshops. A 10% discount on the conference ticket price is available for registrations before 17 August
From 22–24 September 2025, nova-Institute once again hosts the Renewable Materials Conference (RMC) in Siegburg/Cologne (Germany). This leading event will showcase innovative solutions for replacing fossil carbon in chemicals and materials with renewable carbon from biomass, CO₂ and recycling. The conference brings together key players from industry, academia and policy to explore the technologies, innovations and regulatory frameworks that are a sustainable circular economy.
This year’s edition is expected to attract more than 500 international participants. It will consist of 75 expert presentations and 20 panel discussions, as well as a networking area with a table-top exhibition spread over two floors.
A particular highlight this year is the strong focus on sharing in-depth knowledge through a wide range of interactive expert workshops. These workshops will run alongside the main programme, and complement the talks and panel discussions of each of the conference topics. Their scheduling allows participants to attend both conference sessions and topic-related workshops without overlap. The workshops are hosted by prominent companies, institutes and international initiatives, and offer deep dives into industry-relevant topics, policy insights and best practices.
Conference Spotlight: Twelve Interactive Expert Workshops
Workshops at Day 1, 22 September 2025:
The first day of the conference launches the workshop programme with four highly focused workshops addressing key aspects of industrial transformation and business development. Florian Kleinwächter from Holcim (DE) present how to turn CO2 into Business: Time to Walk the Talk with Holcim’s Upcoming Opportunity.
Timo Ture and Markku Nikkila from Syklo (FI) will present “From Waste to Wonders”, a new industrial concept to recycling consumer cardboard and plastic waste into low-carbon technical bio-composites.
In a parallel policy-oriented workshop, PtX Lab Lausitz (DE) will explore policy tools to drive the sustainable transformation of petrochemical clusters to CO2 utilisation. This workshop will be led by Irina Akhmetova and Lukas Horndasch, together with guest expert Clemens Schneider from the University of Kassel (DE).
In the afternoon session, nova-Institute (DE) will offer a hands-on workshop for emerging businesses titled “Business Plans for Renewable Chemicals and Materials for Start-ups and SMEs”. Facilitated by Lars Börger, Narendar Raju Poranki and Gillian Tweddle, the session outlines what a successful business plan requires, and how nova’s experts can support you. Practical case examples will conclude the session.
Workshops at Day 2, 23 September 2025:
Day two features a highly diverse workshop programme: Kai Junge Puring from Fraunhofer UMSICHT (DE), will showcase their “Air2Chem” project, which focuses on replacing fossil chemicals with chemicals derived directly from atmospheric CO₂ and on the vision of a chemical industry that integrates air as a resource.
Michael Carus, founder and CEO of the nova-Institute/Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI; DE) will present the comprehensive modelling study from BIC/RCI on the availability of biomass for chemicals and derived materials in Europe and the world.
In a parallel session focusing on marketing, Stefanie Fulda und Dušica Banduka from nova-Institute (DE) will explore effective communication strategies for renewable materials and chemicals.
HYDRA Marine Sciences (DE) and BASF (DE) are co-hosting a workshop that will address key open questions on biodegradability to further structure the complex topic and move towards an integration into the circular economy concept. Miriam Weber, Christian Lott and Andreas Künkel will elaborate on the role of renewable, biodegradable materials in a circular economy.
Kim Schoppink from the Science Based Targets initiative (EU) will open a discussion on the key proposed improvements to the revised Corporate Net Zero Standard and the impact on renewable carbon utilisation.
Workshops at Day 3, 24 September 2025:
On the final day of the conference, Jan-Harm Urbanus and Pieter Imhof of TNO (NL) will demonstrate how AI can be used in polymer design to mitigate the negative impacts of plastics and develop innovative material solutions.
In a parallel workshop, Matthias Stratmann from nova-Institute (DE) will discuss the role of renewable carbon in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and carbon footprint guidelines, methodology work and case studies.
To close the workshop series, Christopher vom Berg from nova-Institute and RCI will host “Facilitating Change – Policy for a Renewable Carbon Transition”, featuring a panel of experts including Janine van Kampen (Dutch Ministry for Climate Policy and Green Growth), Sebastian Kunz (Südzucker, DE), and Luciano Proto Cassina (nova-Institute).
Find the workshop programme, the abstracts with short descriptions and more information on how to book your own workshop here: www.renewable-materials.eu/workshops/
To support early planning, the conference organisers offer a 10% Early Bird Discount for registrations completed by 17 August 2025: www.renewable-materials.eu/registration/
Secure your place before the summer break!
Conference Highlights: Full Programme, Panel Discussion and Innovation Award
The Renewable Materials Conference 2025 will focus with 75 presentations on five key topics shaping the future of the industry: Defossilisation of the chemical industry, fossil-free plastics, fine chemicals, policy frameworks for renewable carbon and biodegradation. Furthermore, the conference will feature a panel discussion with experts from industry, policy and academia on “The Future of the Chemical industry in Europe: Defossilised and Competitive, How can this Work?” All programme details and information on speakers and panellists are available at: www.renewable-materials.eu/program/
On the second day of the conference the participants have the opportunity to vote for the prestigious “Renewable Material of the Year 2025” award, sponsored by Covestro (DE), with six shortlisted innovators presenting breakthrough materials ranging from white lignin to biosynthetic polyamides and advanced recycling technologies. Read more on the six nominees here: www.renewable-materials.eu/award-application/
Would you like to become a sponsor of the conference, an exhibitor, advertise in the conference journal? Gain all information here:
Sponsoring opportunities: www.renewable-materials.eu/sponsoring/
Exhibition booking: www.renewable-materials.eu/exhibition-booking/
Thanks to RMC Sponsors and Media Partners
The nova-Institute would like to thank UPM Biochemicals (FI) for supporting the conference as Platin Sponsor, CO₂Value Europe (EU), IFF (US), Leaf Biotech (CN), TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium (BE), Uncountable Inc. (US), and Zhongke Guosheng (Hangzhou) Technology (CN) as Gold Sponsors. Thank you also to J. Rettenmaier & Soehne GmbH + Co KG (DE) and REDcert (DE) as Silver Sponsors, and TNO (NL) for acting as Get-Together Session sponsor. The innovation award “Renewable Material of the Year 2025” is sponsored by Covestro (DE).
The Renewable Materials Conference is supported by industry and trade associations, non-profit organisations, research institutions and interest groups that are thematically linked to the conference: AVK - Federation of Reinforced Plastics (DE), BCNP Consultants (DE), B4C – Bioeconomy for Change (FR), bündnis mikroplastikfrei (AT), C.A.R.M.E.N. (DE), ChemCologne (DE), Chemie-Cluster Bayern (DE), CLIB – Cluster industrielle Biotechnologie (DE), CO2Value Europe (EU), Enterprise Europe Network – Zenit (DE), European Bioplastics (EU), GO!PHA – Global Organization for PHA (International), IBB – Industrielle Biotechnologie Bayern Netzwerk (DE), ITA – Institut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen (DE), kunststoffland NRW (DE), NRW.Energy4Climate – Landesgesellschaft für Energie und Klimaschutz (DE), ÖGUT – Österreichische Gesellschaft für Umwelt und Technik (AT), Plastics Europe (DE) und Renewable Carbon Initiative (International).
Source: nova-Institute, press release, 2025-07-02.