Food and drink packaging (\>$300Bn/year global market) relies on plastics and a variety of chemicals now considered hazardous to health and dangerous to the environment. These chemicals usually impart barrier properties, non-stick surfaces, flame retardancy and antimicrobial activities which are required for food/drink packaging. New regulations are being introduced globally to limit/restrict use of these chemicals, meaning that new biosafe barriers for food/drink packaging need to be found, which will also support consumer demand for safe and environmentally friendly materials. This project will develop new biodegradable and biosafe materials with oil/water resistant surfaces, and flame retardant and antimicrobial properties which can be deployed to the food/drink packaging sector. Our industry partners will develop low energy environmentally friendly enzymatic processes to break down waste potato and sugar beet to extract nanocelluloses. Nanocelluloses have remarkable tensile strength, flexibility and absorbancy/barrier properties and small quantities added to paper mixes greatly improves strength and robustness. These characterised nanocelluloses produced by industry partners will have functional groups attached to them using non-hazardous chemicals and proteins, which will impart oil/water resistance, antimicrobial activities and fire retardant properties. ISO accredited analytical approaches will confirm that these functional groups have been suitably integrated into the nanocelluloses. The oil/water resistance and flame retardancy of the novel materials will be assessed, as will their antiviral and antibacterial activities. Nanocelluloses with suitable functionality will be provided to partners for incorporation into paper fibres in different ratios and dried down or applied as a coating to paper. These will be physically and chemically characterised by partners to confirm the presence of functional groups. Partners will assess the composite materials tensile strength, oil/water resistance, water vapour transmission rate, gas barrier properties, flammability, antimicrobial activities and biodegradability in soil. Materials that are the most promising will be earmarked for scaled up production assessment and also for life cycle analysis which will indicate economic and environmental costs and energy burdens of producing these materials. All project partners will protect IP prior to discussing these products with their existing customers, who are global leaders in the food/packaging industry. Further market analysis will be carried out to potentially roll out the technologies to other market sectors.

The UoE has discovered a unique enzyme which enables new functionalities to be introduced into cellulosic materials and patented its use for industrial applications. CelluComp produces microfibrillated cellulose from vegetable plant waste. This project will combine these technologies to offer enhanced materials for applications in paper-based packaging to replace single use plastic packaging. The materials developed will enable the replacement of the additives used in paper based packaging that help to provide strengthening (in wet and dry state) and barrier properties. These additives can include Per/poly-fluoro substances (PFAS or forever chemicals), polyimides, epichlorohydrins etc. some of these chemicals are in the process of coming under legislative restrictions in many countries. In addition, the materials/processes developed in this project will enable 3D-moulded paper package to be moulded with higher quality surface finishes. A high quality surface finish is critical for application of water based barrier coatings at levels, which do not impede recyclability/repulpability and biodegradability of the paper-based packaging yet still give the high levels of barrier for water/grease and oxygen resistance required for food contact packaging. The project will carry out an independent Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of these new materials and processes. The opportunity to develop this plant enzyme based method to produce sustainable packaging and replace PFAS and oil based chemicals has considerable potential for economic and societal impact.

The '_Pulpex UK BioScience Initiative_' will help Pulpex Ltd fully achieve its medium-term ambition by replacing its existing petrochemical-based barrier coatings with truly sustainable coatings as barriers to water and foods. The barrier coatings are applied on the interior of the Pulpex sustainable bottle. Sustainable materials are the future of food packaging; consumers, general public and corporates are demanding this product now. Pulpex has already demonstrated the manufacture of a paper bottle that will enable brands to switch from glass or plastic to a sustainable alternative that is readily recycled. Pulpex has developed an advanced manufacturing process that converts cellulose fibre into a bottle that can be easily recycled through the existing and well-established paper collection schemes that are available throughout the UK. Pulpex are partnering with two UK bio-manufacturing firms. CuanTec is a world leading firm based in the European Centre for Marine Biotechnology in Oban who produce chitosan from waste material from shellfish using a proprietary fermentation process. CelluComp is an established company based in Fife with deep expertise in the extraction of micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) from waste root vegetables using bioprocessing techniques. These are world-class companies based here the UK and seeking expanding markets for their products. This ambitious collaborative project draws on scientific expertise from across the UK to accelerate the adoption of bioprocessing-derived barrier coatings for Pulpex's breakthrough fibre bottles and other high barrier packaging applications. The incredible calibre of our partners is testament to the high standards we aspire to. The project offers deep industry and academic collaboration across the entire supply chain -- converting non-food waste (e.g. shells from crustaceans and discards from root vegetables) into high value high barrier packaging that is market ready and validated. We see properly bioprocessing as essential to the development of the next generation of sustainable products. The project aim is to deliver and accelerate commercial high barrier products -- derived from the bioprocessing / fermentation of chitosan and MFC from vegetal waste streams -- that can be effectively applied to Pulpex fibre bottles at scale and certified as suitable for liquid food use.

The need for alternative low carbon building materials is clear. We will investigate the potential of using novel low energy binders that could be used as alternatives to cement-based products or traditional clay-fired bricks; both having high embodied carbon and energy. We propose here to investigate the optimum combinations of ingredients to ascertain whether such novel materials can meet strict multifactorial technical requirements demanded by the global building industry. This collaboration between two commercial SME partners (CelluComp/Kenoteq) and Heriot-Watt University involves two foundation industry sectors, cement and ceramics. The project will develop a new building product: with reduced energy input/costs, utilise waste/recycled materials, supports the circular economy/resource efficiency, as well as reduce CO2 emissions. Cellucomp has developed low-cost energy efficient processes for producing materials from waste/side streams of the food processing industry, specifically sugar-beet pulp, a by-product of the sugar industry. These production methods have been scaled up, producing materials suitable for applications from food to building materials. Kenoteq is the natural lead-partner for this project because they are a developer and manufacturer of unique building products that are designed to reduce carbon emissions and, at the same time, boost waste recycling from the construction industry. Having developed a brick that is made from recycled waste cementitious and ceramic materials which is produced without firing, thereby reducing CO2 emissions, and contributing to the circular economy. Heriot-Watt is required for the development of the innovative building material. Their unique expertise/experimental capability in assessing material's properties and performance from the micro-to-macro-scale behaviour according to the relevant building standards. The purpose of this proposal is to investigate in more depth the suitability of a novel binder material; both as a replacement for cement and as a potential material for manufacturing bricks/blocks with low temperature processing. Kenoteq would provide the route to market for successful products. This project aims to produce sustainable replacements, for building materials such as bricks and cement (major contributors to global CO2 release) and support efficient resources exploitation of materials.

Due to emergent pandemic threats the global use of personal protection equipment (PPE) has hugely increased (in particular face masks). Most of this PPE is single use, contains plastics, is not easily recyclable and generally is disposed of via landfill or discarded into the environment. It is estimated that if each person in the UK uses a single disposable mask each day for a year this would result in 66, 000 tonnes of contaminated plastic waste (which would be a reservoir of infection) and have ten-fold more of a climate change impact than reusable masks. Interestingly, most of these materials are prone to "wetting out" and are poorly absorbant which raises transmission risks, and moreover they lack the requisite antiviral/antibacterial activities required for robust protection. There are however very few antiviral PPE technologies readily available in the public domain and those that are suffer from complex manufacturing methods, high expense, poor reusability, poor washability and rapidly lose their antiviral activities. There is now a pressing need to develop completely new PPE materials which confer safety and comfort by being highly absorbant, breathable and can actively sequester viruses and kill them and have potent antimicrobial activity. It is also crucial that these PPE materials are made from existing waste streams, be multiuse, re-washable, compostible, recyclable and cheap; reducing the huge environmental burden and supporting the emergent bioeconomy for new products. This project will produce novel PPE materials (in particular face masks) which satisfies all these criteria and address a major market and environmental weakness. This project will produce unrivalled novel ISO validated multiuse, washable, environmentally friendly PPE materials which have potent antiviral activities, while also considering antibacterial properties since warm and moist PPE masks may support bacteria. This work builds on our existing publications and patent portfolios with industry partners and also helps drive our novel products to the face mask market and beyond, while also enabling us to identify interesting antiviral/antibacterial properties which will later be investigated to unpick new potential pathogen control mechanisms.

CelluComp will use its fully sustainable microfibrilated cellulose from vegetable waste streams - called Curran, to provide the specific barrier properties required for food packaging, without the use of plastic and/or fluorochemicals. Curran will be used as a mix in the paper pulp and as an additive for coatings. Along with outside consultancy, CelluComp has developed a ready-to-use barrier coating for food packaging. Specifically, CelluComp will utilise its lab, outside consultancy and customer relations to prove the technical and sustainable viability of using Curran in food packaging. CelluComp will make hand sheets of paper for flat sheet applications using different levels of Curran, starches and other components to maximize paper quality suitable for different end applications in food packaging. CelluComp will measure strength, porosity, and the effects the Curran-based sheet will have on grease barrier, water vapour barrier and oxygen barrier. Once the most optimized sheets are produced, CelluComp will add coatings to this paper and commercial food contact papers and retest for the same properties. CelluComp will also test Curran in paper products produced by moulded fibre production. As with the flat sheets, measurements for strength, porosity, cost and barrier will be considered. Curran-based coatings will also be tested on these moulded paper products. These tests will also be verified with potential end customers and at a larger scale. At the end of the project, CelluComp will be able to gather important information on the best direction to focus its efforts in the food-packaging industry. It will aim to complete 1 piece of work leading to a concrete new packaging solution with a customer that will launch in the short term and produce immediate impact. Finally, testing of biodegradation, LCA analysis and migration studies will take place to ensure the safety of the new packaging for food and register the impact on sustainability.

Project leader CelluComp, a Scottish-based material science company producing microfibrilated cellulose (MFC) from waste streams of root vegetables, will team up with its partners and customers to design the next level of sustainable food packaging. There is a global issue with the use of plastics in packaging, often ending up in landfill and littering the environment, causing problems for natural ecosystems, thereby increasing the potential environmental impacts. Paper-based products could possibly address this, as paper is biodegradable and recyclable, but there are issues with barrier performance. Multi-layered paper-based solutions can use 3-7 layers consisting of plastic, cardboard and foil, making recycling or composting of this packaging extremely difficult. CelluComp proposes to replace plastic and metal foil layers, by utilising films of its MFC product called Curran. This will reduce the issues of recycling and enable re-pulping and re-use in paper products. CelluComp's extensive knowledge in coatings, composites and paper applications makes it well-suited to find ways to achieve its objectives. It has already shown how Curran can add strength to paper and close its porosity. It has demonstrated Curran's ability to improve barrier properties of coatings on paper and it knows Curran can form a natural barrier film. Putting these elements together is the next logical step. The Project will support the government's Clean Growth Strategy by focusing on enhancing the benefits and value of the UK's natural resources. By using sugar beet pulp as a feedstock and turning this co-product stream into a high-valued product using low energy and non-toxic chemicals, CelluComp will make efficient use of agri-products, get rid of avoidable waste and maximise the value of resources. Plastic and/or foil reduction in packaging means a reduction of incineration of non-recyclable packaging, thereby reducing carbon emissions.

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The REMAC project aims to demonstrate the 30% reduction of sugar and or fat and the addition of fibre to confectionary, bakery and sauce products. This will be achieved through the use of highly functional natural cellulosic materials produced from root vegetable sources as substitute for the sugar or fat. The success of this project will make a significant contribution to the production of healthier food products. Which support the government aims of increasing fibre intake to 30g per day and reduce fat and sugar, helping in the longer term to reduce the related health issues and the associated costs to consumers and the health service.

Curran®, a material formed by the extraction of nano-cellulose fibres from root vegetables, offers exceptional rheological and mechanical properties for numerous applications, such as paints and coatings, personal care products, cosmetics. This study is to better understand the structure building properties of Curran®, in water based coating formulations. This knowledge can then be used to better formulate in new application areas.

Arraying of chemical groups and functional peptides on the surface of engineered, safe (non-infectious) virus-like nanoparticles (VNPs), permits the formation of biomimetic multifunctional and highly reactive nanoscale structures. This project seeks to develop the next generation functional 3D nanomaterials we via the incorporation of such multifunctional VNPs into a low cost nanocellulose matrix which has excellent mechanical characteristics, thus allowing production of innovative functional and catalytic nanoreactors, coatings, filters and other devices