Conference Speakers

Lars Borger, Ph.D.

CEO, nova-Institute GmbH

BIOGRAPHY

Lars Börger, with a doctorate in chemistry and an Executive Master’s in General Management, has over 25 years of international experience in sustainable materials. At BASF, he led global biopolymers marketing and introduced mass balancing, including working six years in China. As Vice President at Neste, he built the renewable polymers and chemicals division. He has also served on boards supporting bioplastics and sustainability. Since March 2025, he has been CEO of the nova-Institute. Committed to transforming the chemical industry, his guiding principle is: “Moving forward by going in circles.”

---

Renewable Carbon and the Circular Shift: Future-Proofing Raw Materials

Materials cannot be decarbonized. While energy systems can be decarbonized, materials inherently require carbon. This presentation addresses the parallel and complementary need to shift from fossil to renewable carbon sources in materials production. This requires maximizing the circular economy to keep materials in circulation as efficiently as possible. However, even in highly efficient circular systems, unavoidable material losses and a continuous increase in demand require the continuous supply of additional carbon-based raw materials. To counteract this, renewable carbon from bio-based sources and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) need to be considered alongside recycled content.

The presentation will provide an overview of how a renewable carbon economy can provide the future-proof feedstock base for the materials and textile industries. The discussion will emphasize how such a feedstock mix can be the driver for innovation and economic growth by contributing to resource efficiency and climate goals.