Flue2Chem: Cross-sector collaboration

SCI (Society of Chemical Industry), BASF and 13 other organisations have secured funding for a two-year programme to develop a new value chain to convert industrial waste gases into sustainable materials for consumer products. The project, which has been granted £2.68 million from Innovate UK, will aim to help the UK reach its net zero target.

Key industrial players representing a £73 billion UK sector have signed a collaboration agreement to launch ‘Flue2Chem’ - a collaborative programme to transform the sustainability of the UK’s consumer products industry and reduce green-house gas emissions on a demonstration scale.

BASF, SCI (Society of Chemical Industry), Unilever and 12 other organisations have secured funding for a two-year programme to develop a new value chain to convert industrial waste gases into sustainable materials for consumer products. The project, which has been granted £2.68 million from Innovate UK, will aim to help the UK reach its net zero target.

David Bott, SCI’s Head of Innovation said, “This is an excellent example of the power of collaborative working.  It is an important step for the UK and SCI’s vision of furthering the application of chemistry and related sciences into industry for public benefit.

“The new business model will aim to reduce the need for imported fossil fuel material.  Instead, the consortium will build a new, more sustainable supply chain whilst also mitigating waste emissions. The group will develop methods for using carbon captured from waste streams of other industries and transform them into affordable raw materials for consumer products.”

Christian Holtze, Academic Partnership Developer and Principal Scientist for Flow Chemistry at BASF commented, “Flue2Chem not only aligns very well with BASF’s ambitious goals on reducing its carbon emissions, it also addresses another important challenge of the chemical industry - the use of new technologies to replace fossil fuels with alternative feedstocks.”

Darren Budd, Commercial Director, BASF, UK & Ireland added, “BASF’s research strength and integrated approach brings together a wealth of technical experts to work on Carbon Management.   In addition, we are delighted to be working together with industry peers and academic partners on the catalyst-development needed as we transition as a company, industry and society to net zero”

Published 9 February 2023