Innovate UK Business Connect’s Post

Already next Tuesday June 25th, we'll have our 2nd meeting of our new workgroup "Circular Design & Production". Which, in my view, is one of the most interesting topics for composites today. Often seen as difficult to recycle, in the last few years there has been made major progress, with lots of new technologies, so that today we can say that all composites can be recycled, and even in cost effective and sustainable ways. Next, we foresee a new way of designing composite parts, not only on minimising weight and cost as we always did in the past, but also on design for recycling. And not only that, also designing with recycled materials. Exciting topics to be treated in presentations from expert speakers and a round table discussion in our upcoming workgroup meeting. #circularity #design #recycling #composites

WE ARE FINALIST! GMC™ - Green Moulding Compound is finalist in Materialica Design + Technology Award Hikari, an innovative start-up company from Italy, has developed the composite material Green Molding Compound GMC® in collaboration with Ranger, a SMC molding company founded 55 years ago and the Laboratory of Polymers and Composites at the University of Ferrara. This new material is similar to conventional Sheet Molding Compounds (SMC) and Bulk Molding Compounds (BMC), but replaces conventional components with environmentally friendly alternatives. Specifically, glass fibers are replaced by natural flax fibers, and a polyester resin with a high natural content (around 50%) is used as the matrix. In addition, mineral fillers are replaced by waste from food processing, which significantly improves the environmental sustainability of the material, as shown by analyses of the carbon footprint.   GMC® is used by Hikari for the Hedera vertical garden system, where a balance between environmental sustainability and mechanical properties is crucial. Additionally, the GMC® material reflects a highly innovative interpretation of the circular economy concept. Its potential extends beyond the Hedera project, with various other applications being explored to leverage its sustainable properties.   The contact details are as follows: simone.pietta@ranger.it  

lightly Shines Bright: Winner of the Coveted L-Prize. Get ready to be inspired by innovation that's changing the World! Lightly won the prestigious L-Prize from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for their groundbreaking Low-Carbon Biodegradable Luminaire. Lightly has taken the lighting world by storm with a revolutionary luminaire that's redefining the future of illumination in commercial buildings. This architectural-grade linear luminaire is not just a game-changer; it's a planet-changer! What makes it special? Lightly's luminaire is a shining example of energy efficiency, using novel, biodegradable materials like wood, hemp, and wool, leaving plastic and metal in the past. Learn more about Lightly products here https://hubs.la/Q029DzMf0 #LightlyLPrizeWinner #InnovationForGood #EcoFriendlyLighting #GameChanger #SustainabilityChampion #LightingTheFuture #LEDLighting #ArchitecturalLighting

lightly Shines Bright: Winner of the Coveted L-Prize. Get ready to be inspired by innovation that's changing the World! Lightly won the prestigious L-Prize from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for their groundbreaking Low-Carbon Biodegradable Luminaire. Lightly has taken the lighting world by storm with a revolutionary luminaire that's redefining the future of illumination in commercial buildings. This architectural-grade linear luminaire is not just a game-changer; it's a planet-changer! What makes it special? Lightly's luminaire is a shining example of energy efficiency, using novel, biodegradable materials like wood, hemp, and wool, leaving plastic and metal in the past. Learn more about Lightly products here https://hubs.la/Q029DG1b0 #LightlyLPrizeWinner #InnovationForGood #EcoFriendlyLighting #GameChanger #SustainabilityChampion #LightingTheFuture #LEDLighting #ArchitecturalLighting

OECHSLER is committed to developing more sustainable products and has collaborated with Roland Schmider (Brighthub GmbH), to revolutionize lighting technology with e³ Sustainable Lighting. This luminaire is a nature break through with its approx. 90% CO2 reduction in production through replacing a relevant aluminum share in high lumen output trackspots with heavy duty plastics. The "e³" represents its key features: Energy efficient, Eco friendly and Economical. Revolutionizing the Lighting Industry with New Standards: ✔️ Recycled and easy recyclable plastic housing used in automotive applications that eliminates the need for harmful painting or powder coating ✔️ Approx. 90% CO2 reduction in production ✔️ Made-In-Germany Together with natureOffice GmbH we determined the CO2-balance of our product. Find out more about the results: https://lnkd.in/eYadCtAy. #movingbeyondinnovations #innovation #innovativesolutions #lighting #collaboration #polymerindustry #polymerinjectionmolding #pim #technology

🇨🇳 Chinese Innovation Revolutionises Wood-Plastic Composites! 🚀 Breakthrough in Material Science: A pioneering study by Chinese scientists has successfully created stronger wood-plastic composites (WPC), setting a new standard for recyclable construction materials. 🔎 Key Insights: 1️⃣ Innovative Composite Material: Leveraging waste wood fibres and recycled plastics, the new method integrates these components into a durable material suitable for building and automotive uses. 2️⃣ Technological Advancement: Utilising a novel solid-state shear milling (S3M) process inspired by traditional Chinese stone milling, this technology enhances the bond between wood fibres and plastics, dramatically improving the material’s strength and utility. 3️⃣ Global Impact: With the Asia-Pacific region accounting for over 30% of the global WPC market, this innovation could dramatically influence building practices, promoting sustainability and efficient use of resources. 4️⃣ Economic and Environmental Benefits: This advancement not only helps in managing waste but also supports the burgeoning demand for eco-friendly building materials, fostering a circular economy. 🏗️ Driving Sustainable Construction: This development is a significant step towards reducing plastic pollution and promoting the use of sustainable materials in the construction industry. 💡 Supporting Research and Development: The Chinese government’s backing highlights the role of national support in advancing green technologies and sustainable practices. 💬 #questionforgroup: What are other potential applications for this new wood-plastic composite technology? How can other regions adapt this innovation to local needs? 🔗 Share your thoughts on how this groundbreaking technology can reshape material science and construction worldwide: https://lnkd.in/gBdprkPz #sustainability #construction #wpc #plastics #recycling #innovation #materialscience #engineering #technology #engineering #science #sustainability #circulareconomy #netzero #climatechange #woodcentral #woodcentralau1 #globalsouth #china #randd #research #researchanddevelopment

lightly Shines Bright: Winner of the Coveted L-Prize. Get ready to be inspired by innovation that's changing the World! Lightly won the prestigious L-Prize from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for their groundbreaking Low-Carbon Biodegradable Luminaire. Lightly has taken the lighting world by storm with a revolutionary luminaire that's redefining the future of illumination in commercial buildings. This architectural-grade linear luminaire is not just a game-changer; it's a planet-changer! What makes it special? Lightly's luminaire is a shining example of energy efficiency, using novel, biodegradable materials like wood, hemp, and wool, leaving plastic and metal in the past. Learn more about Lightly products here https://hubs.la/Q029DB2Y0 #LightlyLPrizeWinner #InnovationForGood #EcoFriendlyLighting #GameChanger #SustainabilityChampion #LightingTheFuture #LEDLighting #ArchitecturalLighting

New funding opportunity with 4 of our Innovation Exchange Challenges having just gone live. These types of funding are for SMEs to pitch potential solutions to 'challenge holders', with up to £25k, 100% funding to develop the solutions. Worth looking at if (you're a UK-based SME) and have innovations in the areas of: - Helping a plant-based fabric embellishment company to identify innovative solutions enabling high throughput die cutting of bioplastic film into biodegradable sequins - Helping a global steel lintel manufacturer to identify innovation to replace the fossil fuel-derived foam insulation in its products with a sustainable alternative - Helping Pilkington with inspection techniques for complex shape glass manufacturing - Helping BAE by proposing technologies to manufacture a functionally graded material with continuously changing chemical composition comprising at least two or more materials, such as Super Austenitic Stainless Steel and Low Carbon Steel Registration of proposals closes 12th September 2024 Links for each of the challenges in the post below - please share with relevant SMEs in your networks.

- Circular Matters and StoneCycling® have collaborated to create CornWall, an interior cladding material made from corn cobs, a plentiful agricultural waste. This sustainable alternative to ceramic tiles or plastic laminate is over 99% bio-based, produced at low temperatures with solar power, and boasts a carbon footprint lower than the CO2 absorbed during corn growth. - CornWall's innovative design includes a mechanical fixing system for easy demounting and reuse, promoting a circular economy. Developed by Circular Matters, a spin-off from Belgium's KU Leuven University, the technology enhances natural biopolymers in plants. The collaboration with Dutch company StoneCycling utilises corn cobs, a widely available waste material, locking away carbon until the end of the product's life, ensuring environmentally friendly decomposition. Read the full article on on Dezeen: https://lnkd.in/e4MQvugH #sustainablematerials #sustainableconstruction #sustainableinnovation #biomaterials #sustainablebusiness

New bio based structural product uses wood waste creating partially closed loop eco alternative to concrete and steel. Other benefits? Saves time, money, and of course: carbon. Now that’s innovation!