Renewable Materials Conference 2026 to Spotlight Defossilisation Through Innovation
The Renewable Materials Conference (RMC) 2026 will take place from 22–24 September in Siegburg near Cologne, Germany, bringing together innovators, businesses, policymakers, investors and industry leaders to discuss the future of the renewable carbon economy.
Organised by nova-Institute, the conference is expected to attract 400–500 participants from around the world. As of the latest update, 160 participants from 18 countries have already registered. The event will focus on the theme “Defossilisation through innovation”, highlighting developments in the bioeconomy, carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), and recycling for chemicals and materials.
Quadruple System Shock Panel Discussion
One of the conference’s featured sessions will examine how the chemicals and materials industry can navigate four simultaneous structural challenges:
- Geopolitical uncertainty
- Supply chain risks
- Increasing climate pressure
- Global oversupply, particularly due to manufacturing overcapacity in China
The discussion will explore how these pressures are influencing the transition toward renewable materials and industrial transformation.
The expert panel includes:
- Marc Borghans, ING (Netherlands)
- Lars Börger, nova-Institute (Germany)
- Shena Britzen, Rheinmetall (Germany)
- Janine van Kampen, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (Netherlands)
- Ivana Krkljus, BASF (Germany)
- Jean-Paul Lange, University of Twente (Netherlands)
- Volker Strauss, UBA (Germany)
- Joel Tickner, Change Chemistry (United States)
Exhibition and Innovation Showcase
The conference exhibition has expanded to 41 booths, with 25 already booked and three reserved for sponsors. The exhibition will be positioned alongside conference halls and workshop areas to maximise networking opportunities.
Participating organisations include:
- Algenesis Corporation
- Bio-based Industries Consortium
- BPC Instruments
- CO2 Value Europe
- Covestro
- DIN CERTCO
- European Bioplastics
- GS Biomats
- IFF
- Jiangsu Celluranics New Materials
- LEAF BIOTECH
- nova-Institute
- Peterson Solutions
- Renewable Carbon Initiative
- TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium
- University of Kassel
- UPM
- Verbio
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
The conference will also feature the Innovation Award “Renewable Material of the Year 2026” and 16 workshops covering developments across renewable materials and sustainable manufacturing.
