Harnessing biology to produce the chemicals, materials and fuels of the future (biomanufacturing) is expected to displace our unsustainable dependency on fossil fuels such as oil. One unaddressed problem is that biomanufacturing processes generate significant quantities of microbial waste which requires processing and safe disposal. This adds to the costs and energy use of biomanufacturing companies, reducing their economic viability and eroding their sustainability credentials. DeakinBio has recently developed a method to produce a sustainable bio-based alternative to ceramic tiles that involves the combination of organic biopolymers with inorganic powders such as calcium carbonate. In this project, we will explore the feasibility of using microbial waste generated through C3 Biotech's biomanufacturing processes as the organic component in our tiles. This collaboration is beneficial to C3 Biotech due to the potential of creating a valuable product from an unavoidable waste they produce, and for DeakinBio to secure a biopolymer source to produce their ceramic-like biocomposite materials. This project would therefore improve the circularity of both companies, and improve the viability and sustainability of biomanufacturing in the UK. The desired outcome of this collaboration would be a sustainable ceramic-like tile that has an 80-90% lower carbon footprint compared to conventional tiles by utilising microbial waste generated from C3 Biotech's biomanufacturing processes.

Greater Manchester (GM) has world class research capability in developing advanced materials and has a growing materials innovation cluster within the city region. Globally there is a gap in companies able to provide sustainable materials for manufacturing supply chains, and also a market failure in industries ability to scale up and adopt sustainable materials in manufacturing applications. This presents a major economic opportunity for GM -- and there are plans to realise this through GM Combined Authority's (GMCA's) and Rochdale Development Agency's (RDA's) development of a Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials & Sustainability (CEAMS), which will be built in Atom Valley/Rochdale. Our programme, "Supply Chain Pilots for the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials & Sustainability (p-CEAMS)", supports GMCAs ambitions in the development of CEAMS, leveraging GM's existing strength in materials research, alongside the UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult's (HVMC's) competency in building supply chain capability. Our programme: 1) Addresses current supply chain gaps in provision of sustainable advanced materials by: \*Connecting regional businesses to National supply chain needs in advanced materials including polymers, composites, biomaterials, technical textiles, coatings, and digital manufacturing of materials (Materials 4.0) \*Supporting regional businesses to develop solutions to these needs \*Demonstrating scale up AND application of new advanced materials and digital technologies in industrial processes, through collaborative pilot projects 2) Supports the development of CEAMS and ensures this becomes a long-term capability for GM by transferring activity and follow-on work into the CEAMS -- creating starter pipelines for this investment 3) Uses the activity to catalyse strategic links to inward investment, accelerating advanced materials business clustering in GM through collaborative creation of new material supply chain enterprises, and through the attraction of existing advanced material supply chain companies to GM. Our consortium, comprised of Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), University of Manchester (UoM) Institutes (Royce, GEIC, SMI Hub), National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Science and Technologies Facilities Council (UKRI-STFC), and the UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult, will exploit existing infrastructure within GM and nationally to catalyse cross-sector and cross-supply chain collaborations, developing viable business models to ensure quality and sustainability of AdM systems that deliver innovations, revenue and productivity/GVA benefits for GM businesses and the region .

The ceramic tiles that decorate our kitchens and bathrooms have a huge carbon footprint owing to the energy-intensive firing steps needed to harden and glaze the materials. The ceramic sector accounts for 1% of global industrial emissions and 8% of CO2 emissions trading scheme (ETS) credits. If the world is to meet future emissions reductions targets, we need to develop radical green alternatives to ceramics tiles and the energy-intensive processes that produce them. Our company has recently developed an innovative technology to produce nature-inspired materials similar to seashells, ivory and tooth enamel through a low-energy and scalable process. In this project, our objective is to further develop this technology to produce a low-carbon alternative to ceramic wall tiles. These tiles will be made from captured CO2 in the form of carbonate minerals and a plant-based biopolymer binder. All the components of the tiles can be sourced locally and fully recycled, contributing to a circular economy. By avoiding the energy-intensive firing step needed to produce ordinary ceramics, our nature-inspired process will have a 73% lower carbon footprint. Furthermore, since our materials will consist of captured CO2, the tiles will be locking away CO2 that would otherwise have been released into the atmosphere. Our long-term vision is to facilitate the transition to a sustainable, circular economy by developing green alternatives to construction materials such as cement, concrete, bricks and tiles, through the use of waste and low-value by-products from other industries.