Abstract Lignocellulosic feedstocks, such as forestry biomass and agricultural crop residues, can be utilized to generate biofuels and biochemicals. Converting these organic waste materials into biochemicals is widely regarded as a remedial approach to develop a sustainable, clean, and green energy source. Nevertheless, are these methods sustainable and clean? Prior studies have shown that most such conversions use metals – including heavy metals or noble metals – as catalysts. In addition to the fact that many metals (e. g., aluminum, cobalt, titanium, platinum) have been listed as critical minerals, these methods suffer from high cost, deactivation, and leakage problems and the release of toxic wastes. This Review summarizes catalytic methods using metal and metal‐free catalysts for the oxidation of the platform molecules 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural and levoglucosenone and demonstrates the potential and effectiveness of metal‐free catalysts.