Renewable Carbon Initiative presents the latest update of its comprehensive Carbon Flow Report

Carbon can be used in fundamentally different ways. On the one hand, it is used as an energy carrier, with the energy stored in hydrocarbon molecules being released through combustion processes for power generation or transport. On the other hand, carbon is embedded in a final product as a fundamental and structural component. This includes food and feed, as well as the material and chemical sector, where hydrocarbons are used or converted to form complex chemical molecules.

Examples of materials include wood for construction, furniture and paper, as well as cotton textiles. The Carbon Flow Report 2026 from the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) mainly focuses on fossil and renewable carbon for a variety of chemicals and plastics.