Decarbonisation Technology - August 2024 Issue

Products made from carbon emissions

Textiles

Shoe soles

Packaging

Cleaning products

Fragrances

SAF

Waste carbon

Ethanol

Detergents

Containers

Surfactants

LanzaTech’s commercial technology created the chemical building block (ethanol) for this CarbonSmart product portfolio

Figure 3 LanzaTech’s proprietary CarbonSmart product portfolio

extreme weather events in 2023 and 2024 have heightened the sense of urgency, prompting people to re-evaluate their expectations and demand more from companies and governments. CCU technologies are not new. LanzaTech launched its first commercial-scale plant in 2018, and the six plants currently using the technology now have the capacity to abate 500,000 tonnes per year. Brands like Zara, H&M Move, On, and Coty have already put that recycled carbon to work in real products for purchase, including party dresses and athletic apparel ( Peters, 2021 ) ( Peters, 2023 ). Carbon Engineering’s Air to Fuels process and LanzaJet’s sustainable aviation fuel are other more mature examples of carbon reuse, to complement storage technologies (Carbon Engineering, 2024) (LanzaJet, 2024). Governments worldwide will respond to citizens’ demands for meaningful climate solutions. The European Union, for instance, has already taken steps with its strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, incorporating sustainable design and consumer awareness campaigns. In the US, local communities will benefit from the climate incentives embedded in the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes support for CCU technologies. Emerging economies, like India, will explore carbon Governmental actions and global collaboration

recycling, aiming to gain more control over their resources and reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels. Despite the growing momentum, significant obstacles still exist. Some groups will resist systemic changes, pushing for status quo solutions, such as focusing solely on CCS and ignoring the broader potential of CCU. Smaller countries may struggle to balance their emissions targets with the high costs of clean technology investments. Political compromises could also limit the effectiveness of global climate agreements. In the quest for perfect solutions, progress can become stalled. Policymakers and industry leaders must embrace ‘good enough’ solutions that offer significant improvements over the status quo. Incremental advances, rather than waiting for a miracle technology, can collectively drive substantial change. Environmental and economic benefits The environmental benefits of carbon recycling are significant. By diverting waste gases from power production to chemical production, substantial carbon savings can be achieved. Gas fermentation does not compete with food production, as it uses industrial land and recycled process water. While global greenhouse gas emissions pose a global challenge, localised pollutants like particulate matter and NOx have immediate health and environmental consequences.