Higher Performance, Carbon Negative Plastics, Maybe for Less: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to ReSource Chemical

In this slide, we see that the transformation occurs in just two steps, one from biomass to furfural, and thence from furfural to FDCA. Furfural is one of the few molecules out there – acetic acid is another — that’s been made renewably from biomass since the 1800s — even back in the 19th century it was made from lignocellulosic material, and Quaker Oats started making it from oat hulls nearly one hundred years ago — it’s made from cobs and sugarcane bagasse, and basically we have the magic that is ReSource right here. They have a way of getting from furfural, which is widely produced, to FDCA, which a number of companies are chasing.

And now for something completely different, a striking claim here makes it’s first appearance — it’s carbon-negative. That’s completely new in this space, and speaks loudly to any company chasing net zero. You can have your plastic and your pledges? Bring it on!