How to innovate for environmental sustainability
The development of new technologies, products and manufacturing process has a huge role in making existing products more sustainable and efficient.
![Matthew Herbert Matthew Herbert](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Matthew-Herbert-Headshot.png?w=800&h=800&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1690813423&s=1c8af270c7341395d22dafaaaa171c33)
Director of Marketing Communications
(he/him)
A hard-hitting report released by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has advised that the UK should completely eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This report comes in the same week as a UN report into the impact of humans on nature shows that nearly one million species risk becoming extinct within decades.
Innovation and the development of new sustainable technologies, products and manufacturing process has a huge role to play in not only heightening productivity and economic growth but also in making existing products and processes more sustainable and energy efficient to reduce environmental impact.
This is particularly important for the chemistry-using sector as it underpins almost every consumer industry, supplying a vast range of products to the broader UK manufacturing landscape. With the Government’s Clean Growth Strategy pledging to invest over £2.5 billion to support low carbon innovation until 2021, CPI will be leading by example to identify, develop and disseminate low-carbon processes to help reach climate goals, while enabling companies to remain competitive.
At present, the UK Chemical Industry accounts for around 4.4% of CO2 emissions. Despite the UK cutting emissions by over 40%, to keep global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees centigrade this century, as committed to in the Paris Agreement, industry still needs to take a multitude of actions to reduce its significant and ever-present climate impact. Low carbon products with increased functionality need to be produced, processes that use less and recycle more need to become commonplace, and manufacturing must become zero carbon and energy self-sufficient.
We must work together to identify opportunities for different regions and manufacturing clusters to operate in symbiosis to create a more sustainable, circular economy in addition to the identification and development of new carbon-reducing technologies.
![green chemistry green chemistry](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-971745508.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=38e3e922fa17df9994f81d5dd88d489a 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-971745508.jpg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=ddfe2a42894e2ae475b6a6f0d5f26ff8 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-971745508.jpg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=3745f3773c1cf380fc8d14e5c76cd6ca 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-971745508.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=ccbcd9e4317f01a013413652290ebf10 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-971745508.jpg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=0f6c7227dec6d667e8338199898f947a 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-971745508.jpg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=a32587e2464f5e9d55a629268c4d2161 960w)
Below, I have outlined a number of diverse and exciting projects we are undertaking which work towards climate goals and the realisation of our vision of a cleaner environment.
Formulating the future of batteries
We are working on a number Faraday Battery Challenge projects aimed at extending the mileage and speeding up charging of electric vehicles in addition to new battery technologies such as sodium nickel chloride all aimed at reducing carbon and air pollution in the UK, while creating new opportunities and industries.
![electric vehicle electric vehicle](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-954558336.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=cd48fa72f8eed4703ad956278e29a306 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-954558336.jpg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=1dfc90a0b7da5fca9da180be49ada2bd 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-954558336.jpg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=7dcaea771735f0747dbd10edc00c7b2b 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-954558336.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=d715bfc16b9f0a4e22ee451bcb10419d 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-954558336.jpg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=11b46fb40e656b3bcd55f2304412e775 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-954558336.jpg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222344&s=12c504638713a6db66d496577916b888 960w)
![sustainable salmon sustainable salmon](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-187046026.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222332&s=200dd85df4ca31015d4657a7952bdf5d 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-187046026.jpg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222332&s=d7c0bfbb5bb7648fc2819e3e1959d99c 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-187046026.jpg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222332&s=557e0fc773acc3d6230e9f4b2b1815f6 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-187046026.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222332&s=5ab5edb1d117fa27bfe404b5b237e1c0 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-187046026.jpg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222332&s=a79b26fbf6fc6e736412d37685d5b1ec 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-187046026.jpg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222332&s=8d1d9cf39059684a518d3bc0eeeb1c22 960w)
Developing intelligent tyres
Alongside the University of Bath and UK SME Silent Sensors, we are working to develop a critical component for the future of intelligent tyres. In the project, piezoelectric energy harvesting is used to convert mechanical motion into electrical energy which will reduce weight, reliance on batteries, environmental impact and maintenance costs of integrated sensors.
![smart tyre smart tyre](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1058291032.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221928&s=29809b06cfc55f7e4cf8e34b9251f519 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1058291032.jpg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221928&s=d829c55a2a15de765143ec5b6f2a8963 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1058291032.jpg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221928&s=1ea6aa1ebdeff2540bb0b5c6eb74e2e4 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1058291032.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221928&s=0aba6fc77af77612fb69c49b134268df 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1058291032.jpg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221928&s=478e7219521332e2d1b15be8d01f0d52 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1058291032.jpg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221928&s=043094ae8ce4990a07e26ba3ce07416c 960w)
Converting waste cooking oil into biodiesel
We are working with Green Lizard Technologies, a spin-out company from Queen’s University Belfast to enhance its process for converting used, waste cooking oils into low sulfur biodiesel.
![biodiesel biodiesel](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-935674692.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222378&s=81e490615df804bdb40b2c84e9f7972d 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-935674692.jpg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222378&s=8e621517f4ffbac6746482ed2d793675 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-935674692.jpg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222378&s=8d0d717c317950f14990cb556276d2b6 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-935674692.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222378&s=1c179a2a637914e91641f5bc62a50791 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-935674692.jpg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222378&s=23ad82a8331a0b67213a4354ae670396 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-935674692.jpg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222378&s=9975b393b77fd9d5aac8db0e464a8d96 960w)
Smart Labelling to Cut Food Waste
Working with SMEs Intray and Mexar we are developing next-generation smart labelling aimed at dramatically cutting food waste across the perishable goods industry by providing real-time information on a product’s condition and alerting consumers before they can no longer be consumed.
![smart packaging smart packaging](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1025666236.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221635&s=ba62c691411e88369cc53d5de7fd0c11 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1025666236.jpg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221635&s=70956250320369a60f2f6a905b27a701 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1025666236.jpg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221635&s=e81d0d56e941f6b78003b8f57e0c45a9 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1025666236.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221635&s=a55dd7d388ce8c4df635691be57ee8f3 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1025666236.jpg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221635&s=efdd748a1bc63068aa61fb5360bd7815 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-1025666236.jpg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559221635&s=73b78d654236a45d21be478bccce5281 960w)
Tackling Packaging Pollution
Working alongside industry partners, we are using our polymer chemistry research and materials processing and characterisation capability to develop new biodegradable packaging with better end-of-life options, such as composting and anaerobic digestion. If leaked to the environment, this new approach to packaging is intended to bio-degrade quickly using Earth’s natural biological eco-systems.
![plastic pollution plastic pollution](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-998476680.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222319&s=c5f3012ce5ef3c91391f91d7df91d252 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-998476680.jpg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222319&s=0a25cb5b6dab31fde1b3126db4021707 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-998476680.jpg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222319&s=a16ae49a69a6b9de96523354522a4c79 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-998476680.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222319&s=03e538409b7e852b5a14558759b554c0 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-998476680.jpg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222319&s=a61d034f9ae92c9984e4c63d30d25fdb 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-998476680.jpg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222319&s=9de4ab749601a110f77ef6d2cb6a62b4 960w)
Safeguarding crops with spider venom.
We are part of a major European collaboration using spider toxins to to safeguard crops sustainably. The EcoStack project aims to develop and support ecologically, economically and socially sustainable crop production. Working alongside Newcastle University, CPI is providing expertise in fermentation and downstream processing development focused on the production and formulation of biopesticides.
![crops crops](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-961201680.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222331&s=47b6cb4421123d2d5bd0618477cc2ccc 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-961201680.jpg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222331&s=3a1846863782b120dfdabb10badb4ae0 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-961201680.jpg?w=2240&h=1260&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222331&s=07b5bc9116af5d6f6decdd0bf61a65c3 2240w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-961201680.jpg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222331&s=ffe108ecca33727c7f6b8fe1e523929f 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-961201680.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222331&s=dd474d637143f6c57a567c102a460d9b 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-961201680.jpg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222331&s=455acdd869898b26cc48f2f40e5ecdf1 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/GettyImages-961201680.jpg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1559222331&s=002f9d758192286c147fa93622f4e843 960w)
CPI and our partners are making tremendous steps towards a low carbon system where you get the maximum yield for every molecule of carbon used. We are extremely keen to work with innovators on new technologies, products and ideas which can help to reduce our carbon emissions.
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