Alternative Feedstocks

The challenge

More than 95% of manufactured products depend on industrial chemical processes, making emissions reduction in the chemical sector essential for decarbonizing value chains. Achieving this requires significant innovation and investment in sustainable, low-carbon, circular solutions. However, upstream suppliers face uncertainty due to fragmented demand and unclear market signals, which hinders investment. The transition to sustainable, low-emission, circular feedstocks is further challenged by dispersed suppliers, economic and structural barriers, and the risk of shifting environmental burdens (e.g., some bio-based feedstocks may reduce fossil carbon but increase land or water impacts). Progress is also slowed by the lack of standardized methods to define and verify what qualifies as “alternative feedstocks” and to substantiate related emissions reduction claims.

The business case

Building value for companies, creating value for the planet

Businesses have a unique opportunity to accelerate the shift to alternative feedstocks, reshaping how materials are produced and used across the global economy. By joining this project, companies can:

Build future-ready strategies
Stay ahead of emerging regulations
Gain practical knowledge that supports smarter, more resilient decision-making
Shape the solutions that will define tomorrow’s markets.

Together, this collective effort can help decouple economic growth from environmental harm, protect planetary stability and turn circularity from an ideal into a practical, scalable standard that enables a truly emission-free, resilient economy.

The solution

Unlocking Adoption of Alternative Feedstocks

The Alternative Feedstocks projects is designed to be a cross-sector platform housed in WBCSD’s Circular Products & Materials Value Chain that aims to bridge knowledge gaps, consolidate fragmented demand and highlight solutions to overcome economic and structural barriers, enabling large-scale investment and transformation toward a low-carbon future.

Focus Areas

<p>Definition of Alternative Feedstocks</p>

1.Definition of Alternative Feedstocks

Define and set minimum criteria to identify Alternative Feedstocks, ensuring burden shifting prevention and policy relevance.

2.Overcoming cost barriers

Identify and pilot supporting mechanisms and policy frameworks that address the uneven distribution of costs and willingness to pay regarding the adoption of alternative feedstocks through the value chain.

<p>Demand signals and procurement pathways optimization</p>

3.Demand signals and procurement pathways optimization

Identify and pilot the available procurement mechanisms that will accelerate the adoption of alternative feedstocks.

<p>Collective action through the <a href="https://www.wbcsd.org/actions/emissions-reduction-accelerator/">Emission Reduction Accelerator (ERA)</a> approach</p>

4.Collective action through the Emission Reduction Accelerator (ERA) approach

Collective action on further intervention points that emerge through ERA’s twin value chain mapping approach.

1. Definition of Alternative Feedstocks 2. Overcoming cost barriers 3. Demand signals and procurement pathways optimization 4. Collective action through the Emission Reduction Accelerator (ERA) approach

Key Outcomes

Mobilization of value chain actors

We work with a dedicated stakeholders group that operates under a clearly defined governance structure and implements the tested procurement mechanisms.

Shared understanding and common language

Through the Alternative Feedstock project, we will develop and publish a set of minimum sustainability criteria that integrate policy considerations and align with global frameworks.

Market transformation

The project will launch a mechanism that enables adoption of alternative feedstocks, allowing upstream investments and downstream uptake.

Empowered leadership

By participating, companies are equipped not just to follow the transition to alternative feedstocks, but to actively shape it. Through shared and actionable knowledge companies can turn collective insights into real-world implementation.

Future-ready businesses

Participation helps companies build strategies that are resilient to changing markets and regulations . This enables moving forward with greater confidence, adaptability and long-term stability in a rapidly evolving materials landscape.