# Furfural and furanics (FDCA): Emissions

Coal steam or bagasse fire: the footprint switch

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/emissions/

What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint per tonne, split by lifecycle phase (feedstock, production, movement, use, end of life), the global total, other environmental impacts, levers and low-carbon routes, India's position, and where the investment opportunity lies.

Per t of furfural, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: not published. Global total: not published.

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | low (residues) | – | collection and transport of corncobs and husks | residues carry little allocated farm burden (indicative) | indicative |
| **Production / process** | not published; dominant | – | steam from coal or biomass; sulphuric acid |  | indicative |
| **Movement** | small | – | drums and ISO tanks by sea |  | indicative |
| **Use** | not applicable for resins; solvent losses in refining | – |  |  | indicative |
| **End of life** | furan resins burned off in casting or landfilled with foundry sand | – |  | PEF can be recycled; it must be kept out of PET streams at high shares until sorting is proven (indicative) | indicative |

#### Other environmental impacts

Acid wastewater; toxic vapour exposure; air pollution from small coal-fired Chinese plants.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Biomass (residue) boilers instead of coal
- Continuous high-yield processes cutting steam per tonne
- Integration at sugar mills and maize processors
- PEF replacing PET where barrier allows lighter bottles (indicative)

#### India

India burns or ploughs in much of its rice husk and straw; furfural from these residues with biomass steam is a low-carbon, import-substituting option (indicative).
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

#### Low-carbon routes

| Route | Intensity | Cost premium | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **FDCA and PEF (Avantium)** | lower than PET (Avantium-commissioned LCAs claim large cuts; indicative) | not published; well above PET at first-plant scale (indicative) | 5 kt FDCA plant, first batch Sep 2026 | Avantium 2026; indicative |

 For a climate investor Furfural is a small, old market where India has feedstock but little capacity; residue-based plants at rice mills or sugar mills are the practical opportunity, in foundry resins and solvents. FDCA/PEF is a platform bet whose risk is visible: Avantium took about two years from mechanical completion to first FDCA, with weld defects and fresh equity. What has to be true for PEF: unit costs within reach of PET, food-contact approvals and recycling compatibility, proven at Delfzijl before licensed plants follow.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/furanics/links/index.md)