In the circular economy, the aim is to reduce the use of resources, re-use products as long as possible, and enable recycling at the end of their lives. One way of conserving resources, is by using the by-product of one industry to supply another.
Ingevity uses two by-products from the kraft paper industry – black liquor and chemical-grade crude tall oil (CTO) – to produce chemicals:
A lignin-based chemical with carbon negative properties
The lignin-based chemical made from black liquor is used mainly as a dispersant in the agriculture industry for a diverse set of crop protection formulations including biological products. The production process – including the energy use, materials, packaging and waste – releases 1.46 Metric Tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. A study shows this is 122% lower than fossil carbon-based alternatives when accounting for the biogenic carbon sequestered in the lignin, which results in a credit of -2.2 Metric Tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
What’s more, after application to crops, the lignin’s innate biogenic carbon is expected to remain in the soil for at least a 100-year timeframe, storing the carbon in the soil instead of releasing it to the atmosphere to impact climate change.
An adhesive with sustainable touch
Ingevity has launched a resin created from chemical-grade tall oil and tall oil rosin – renewable co-products of the paper-making industry – used in packaging, tapes, labels and construction adhesive applications. A study conducted by consulting firm Environmental Resources Management (ERM), London, U.K., shows properties of Ingevity’s adhesive fully offset greenhouse gas emissions released during manufacture, do not contribute to climate change, and generate a carbon footprint 12% lower than petroleum-based alternatives.
Associated SDG targets
