FLAVOURS & FRAGRANCES
products . Since the primary feedstocks for synthetic aroma ingredients are typically naphtha and natural gas , alternatives such as bionaphtha and biomethane – derived from organic waste , crops or vegetable oils – are used as feedstocks in the initial stages of chemical production .
However , it is essential to recognise that using biomass-based raw materials does not always guarantee lower CO 2 emissions or a better environmental profile . The differences in carbon footprint between different biomass-based feedstocks are significant and only third partycertified raw materials with a carbon footprint calculated according to wellaccepted standards should be used .
Well-known biomass balance certification schemes such as REDcert2 and ISCC Plus comply with the sustainability criteria of the revised European Commission Renewable Energy Directive and its implementing legislation . These certifications foster trust by confirming that the origins of the renewable feedstock comply with social and environmental criteria laid down by the above directive and that all information is well documented . They also confirm that the declared amount of fossil feedstock has been effectively replaced with renewable feedstock . Companies are audited regularly by a skilled auditor with regards to the schema ’ s criteria . The major advantage of the biomass balance approach is that it leverages the existing , highly efficient production assets and is scalable according to growing market demand . This not only accelerates implementation but also lowers technical risks and limits increases in production costs .
Additionally , biomass balanced products are ‘ drop-in ’ solutions , offering identical product quality and performance compared to
Reference : 1 : IEA , Net Zero Roadmap : A Global Pathway to Keep the 1.5 ° C Goal in Reach . https :// www . iea . org / reports / net-zero-roadmap-a-globalpathway-to-keep-the-15-0c-goal-in-reach the conventional products . This enables F & F houses to seamlessly incorporate them into their production processes without the need for extensive reformulation .
Emission reductions
Publicly available studies reveal a significant range in the product carbon footprint ( PCF ) of aroma ingredients with values ranging from approximately 1.5 kg CO 2 eq / kg for biobased fragrance intermediate myrcene to over 1,000 kg CO 2 eq / kg for natural absolutes . Fossil-based synthetic aroma ingredients are estimated to have PCFs between 5 and 50 kg CO 2 eq / kg , depending on the complexity of the production process and on the primary raw material used for energy generation and as feedstock – coalbased energy production and coalbased feedstocks leading to PCFs on the higher end of the range . The replacement of naphtha or natural gas with biobased feedstock via the biomass balance approach usually results in PCF reductions of 20-60 %.
When calculating the PCFs of conventional materials , as well as the reductions possible by changing to the biomass balanced alternatives , it is of the utmost importance that the calculation is in line with well accepted standards . More and more companies are using the Together for Sustainability ( TfS ) PCF Guideline for synthetic aroma ingredients , because it provides a robust framework for calculating PCFs in accordance with the relevant ISO standards and the guidance given by Partnership for Carbon Transparency ( PACT ).
The TfS guideline is applicable to conventional products as well as biomass-balanced products . It specifies that the lifecycle assessment ( LCA ) of the manufacturing process in which biomass balance attribution occurs can be independently reviewed and confirmed . In practical terms , this means that the PCF reduction achieved through the use of renewable feedstock compared to the
fossil feedstock it replaces must be demonstrable and auditable .
Thus , replacing fossil-based aroma ingredients with biomass-balanced alternatives is a very attractive option for F & F houses , as it enables a substantial PCF reduction , all while maintaining product quality and therefore without the need for reformulation .
Scalable & competitive
The mass balance approach has already demonstrated its effectiveness in diverse sectors such as electricity , biofuels , paper and food . For synthetic aroma ingredients manufactures , this approach enables companies to scale the substitution of fossil raw materials with biomass or waste-based alternatives according to the demand of the F & F houses . Ultimately , this supports F & F houses in reaching their Scope 3 CO 2 emission reduction goals at lowest additional costs , and enables the industry ' s green transition . ●
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Thiago Siqueira Caixeta
SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER
BASF AROMA INGREDIENTS thiago . caixeta @ basf . com www ./ aroma-ingredients . basf . com
42 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981