Bio-resources: feeding a sustainable chemical industry: Faraday Discussion

There is a rapid growth of interest in the use of renewable resources, and in particular bio-resources for the manufacture of future, sustainable chemicals and materials.  The latest USDA report on the potential for bio-based products indicates 10% chemical market penetration by 2015 with ultimately 50,000 eco-products representing a global market value of $1 trillion and the creation of over 200,000 jobs in the US alone

This movement is encouraged by end-user concerns over security of supply (of products based on traditional but diminishing feedstocks), legislation forcing substitution of many common (typically petroleum-based) chemicals, new standards for bio-based products designed to stimulate the markets in Europe and the USA, incentives (e.g. the US bio-preferred programme) and consumer pressure. 
The first significant market movement in this direction was with biofuels but the rush to produce these without proper consideration of competing uses for resources and the efficiency of the manufacturing processes lead to considerable debate over the true sustainability of the products and processes.  With increasing pressure in Europe, USA and elsewhere to move towards bio-based chemicals it is essential that we underpin the bio-economy with sound and well debated science and technology and that we embrace key chemical technologies including catalysis.