Why is tall oil considered a green alternative to petroleum-based feedstocks?

Why is tall oil considered a green alternative to petroleum-based feedstocks?
Tall oil is extracted from the black liquor residue of kraft pulping, making it a renewable, biomass-derived feedstock with a significantly lower carbon footprint than petroleum-based equivalents. Historically burned as fuel, crude tall oil is now fractionated into TOFA, tall oil rosin, and tall oil pitch. TOFA's long C18 carbon chains, carboxyl functionality, and double-bond unsaturation make it valuable in adhesives, alkyd resins, dimer acids, surfactants, oilfield chemicals, and ester lubricants. Its natural origin supports sustainability goals, and end users report tangible benefits: one bearing manufacturer switching to TOFA-based cutting fluid saw tool life improve by about 18%, with more stable, longer-lasting fluid performance. As global carbon regulations tighten, TOFA's bio-based profile is shifting from an option to a requirement for many formulators seeking to reduce Scope 3 emissions without sacrificing performance.