Sustainable chemistry alliance set to boost UK industry
A new alliance bringing together six of the UK's leading chemistry and engineering groups has been launched to support industry in the drive for more sustainable products and services.
A new alliance bringing together six of the UK's leading chemistry and engineering groups has been launched to support industry in the drive for more sustainable products and services.
SusChem UK will focus on areas where innovation in science and engineering can bring about major advances in sustainability. The organisation's chairman Dr David Brown, says the group's formation offers huge potential for UK industry: "With the global market for environmental products and services estimated to exceed £300bn by 2010, there has never been a better opportunity for the chemistry-using industries to develop the "greener" products and services to meet this demand."
Brown, who is also chief executive at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) added: Our organisations" collective knowledge and expertise will prove invaluable to both industry and academia. SusChem UK will work with these groups to set the research agenda for sustainable chemistry and the development of chemistry-based solutions that will contribute to a sustained quality of life for all."
Sustainable chemistry will play an important role in addressing some of the key societal issues we face in terms of the impact of climate change, the availability of fossil fuels, the security of energy supply, safe water, affordable healthcare and more effective use of material resources.
SusChem UK comprises the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Chemistry Innovation and Bioscience for Business Knowledge Transfer Networks, the Chemical Industries Association, the Society for Chemical Industry, and IChemE.
It is one of 14 national platforms in Europe that link with the EU Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry.