About the project

Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers for a Sustainable Future Prosperity Partnership is a collaboration between the Universities of Nottingham and York and Croda (a global leader in high performance ingredients and technologies).

The aim is to develop and ensure that new biodegradable materials achieve equivalent performance benefits to existing synthetic polymers, and build in flexibility to tailor polymer chemistry to alter end-use properties. Our research programme will therefore focus on the following key objectives:

Discovery of novel bio - based monomers and polymers and identification of molecular architecture (WP1, WP2 & WP3)
Performance and biodegradability screening (WP4)
Optimisation and scale - up (WP5)

Croda

“Croda’s ambition to be the most sustainable supplier of innovative ingredients is key in our drive to find sustainable solutions for these widely used polymers. We are excited to be partnering with these like-minded, innovation driven universities to help bring sustainable, biobased and biodegradable alternatives to our markets.”

Dr Ian Tooley, R&D Lead – Chemistry at Croda

University of Nottingham

"We are delighted that we have the chance to contribute to solving this very important societal issue. Working with our industrial and academic partners we will create new sustainable polymeric materials that are going to have an impact on our supermarket shelves. I’m excited!"

Prof. Steve Howdle, University of Nottingham

University of York

"This is a great opportunity to further explore the potential of bioderived, biodegradable soluble polymers, understanding the different properties they can offer relative to current petrochemically-derived ingredients, and having an impact in an important, and often overlooked area."

Prof. Helen Sneddon, University of York

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

The project is supported by the Engineering and Sciences Research Council Prosperity Partnership, bringing together experts from academia and businesses, to meet the challenge of sustainable bio-polymers in liquid formulations.

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