27th July 2022
BONDIFI is an ambitious, world-leading innovation to build a green chemistry industry in the UK. The project will launch the UK’s first circular economy system for making construction and metal products.
The Project is an initiative to reduce the carbon footprint in multiple industries through its circular economy system. BONDIFI intends to prime the future expansion and growth of an innovative green chemistry industry, combining low carbon manufacturing processes with a sustainable technology base to embed bioresin technology within manufacturing facilities across the UK. The funding has been won in the competition for the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge – Demonstrators awarded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
BONDIFI will deliver a partnership between the UK brewing, foundry, panel and chemical industries to scale manufacture of sustainable resins and introduce them into the processes of making furniture, construction panels and casting metal. The £7.3M Innovate UK supported project will link Cambond technology to pioneering groups, including:
- Foresso and WI International (panel manufacturers)
- Biocomposites Centre, Bangor University (Wales) (global expertise in biocomposites)
- Lunts Castings (leading foundry)
- Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University (casting chemistry)
Dr Gareth Roberts, Project Director, noted: “This is a very ambitious project to deliver a commercially viable circular economy system by linking UK entrepreneurship, manufacturing innovation and scientific expertise to existing UK brewing industry excellence.”
Prof Xiaobin Zhao, Cambond CEO, said: “Each partner alone cannot deliver the change needed to decarbonise and transform UK industries. BONDIFI will catalyse change and open the way to massive carbon reductions in manufacturing.”
Background
Resins are critically important chemicals in many manufacturing industries. However, their oil-based and energy intensive manufacturing requirements mean products containing resins have a large carbon footprint.
Cambond has invented a plant-based resin system using by-products from the world’s oldest industry – brewing.
- Panels and metal products use more than 1.3M million tonnes of resin a year – oil-based carbon emissions of > 4MT CO2e.
- Cambond resin replace these with resin made from plant-based brewing by-products.
- Cambond’s plant-based resins require 45% less energy per tonne to manufacture.
- A further benefit comes from the additional use of brewery and paper mill wastes to partially replace virgin wood.
- BONDIFI will create a productive symbiosis between chemical, metal and paper industries and manufacturing – reducing carbon and delivering sustainable products.
Consortium Partners
Foresso makes timber terrazzo using British timber waste, thoughtfully designed for everyday use. Contact Conor Taylor – Conor@foresso.co.uk. 44 (0)7500116141
WI International is the holding company for three manufacturing groups – Hospitality Projects, BANCCI and Libero Bio-panels. They are building a new dedicated timber waste panel plant in the UK, to produce bio-panels for the furniture and construction sectors. Contact Steven Blaess – steven@wi-intl.com 44 (0)7942560814
Lunts Castings Ltd have been casting metal artworks and architectural hardware for over 90 years. The facilities in Birmingham have been revitalised and Lunts look to develop a new generation of foundry technology. Contact Jake Solomon – jake@lunscastings.co.uk 44 (0)7879201906
Biocomposites Centre, Bangor University is a global leader in the science and manufacture of biocomposites. Contact Dr. Graham Ormondroyd – g.ormondroyd@bangor.ac.uk 44 (0)7525773006
Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University is interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to addressing industrial problems through the application of fundamental science and engineering. Contact Prof. Paul Bingham – P.A.Bingham@shu.ac.uk 44 (0)1142256449
The Challenge Fund
The challenge fund brings together the UK’s world-leading research with business to meet the major industrial and societal challenges of our time. It provides funding and support to UK businesses and researchers, part of the greatest single increase in UK science and innovation funding for over 40 years. The fund is backed by £2.6 billion of public money, with £3 billion in matched funding from the private sector. It is run by UK Research and Innovation, which comprises the Research Councils, Innovate UK, and Research England.
UKRI works with the UK government to invest over £7 billion a year in research and innovation by partnering with academia and industry to make the impossible, possible. Through the UK’s nine leading academic and industrial funding councils. To find out more, visit their website at https://www.ukri.org/.
