Two University of Nottingham projects to boost sustainability in the UK cement, glass and ceramic industries have won funding from the UK Research and Innovation Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (UKRI ISCF).
The Foundation Industries (consisting of the cement, metals, ceramics, paper, glass and chemicals sectors) are some of the most energy-intensive industries in the UK and are worth over £52 billion to the UK economy. Each sector is facing challenges on the path to Net-Zero, including consumption of raw materials and recycling of waste products.
The projects, led by Dr Luis Torres and Dr Maria Karafyllia, both of Nottingham University Business School, are among five to win funding from the UKRI-ISCF Transforming Foundation Industries Network+.
Dr Torres’ research, ‘Enabling business models innovation for sustainability in the UK glass sector’, will focus on the flat glass products (windows and glazing) that are typically used by the construction sector. These products have been selected because of their potential to be reused and recycled but currently, recycling rates are very low.
The project will identify what public policy interventions are needed to enable the transition to a circular economy model for flat glass, whereby materials are reused or recycled for as long as possible to extend the lifecycle of products.
Dr Luis Torres, Assistant Professor in Organisational Behaviour, Business & Society in the Nottingham University Business School, said: “The glass sector has a great potential to implement circular economy principles to achieve decarbonisation.
“While public policy attention has been around recycling and reusing container glass, most end-of-life flat glazing, refurbishment and demolition glass are not recycled and reusing them is less appropriate. Keeping flat glass within a circular economy model presents a great opportunity for reducing CO2 emissions and it is economically beneficial for the sector.”
Dr Karafyllia’s research, ‘Circular business model innovation in the UK cement, glass and ceramic industries’, will develop a business case for these industries to adopt strategies around EDI, Net Zero, innovation, future skills, and digitisation to strengthen companies’ competitiveness.
Dr Maria Karafyllia, Assistant Professor in Strategy at Nottingham University Business School, said: “The UK Foundation Industries have low profit margins, making them vulnerable to changes in energy cost and to international competition.
“These industries lack tailored circular business models that will enable them to create, deliver, and capture customer value in more sustainable ways, will enable them to contribute to the national net zero target by 2050, and will enable them to increase their international competitiveness.”
Dr Karafyllia continued: “The UK Foundation Industries underperform in relation to the EDI agenda. This project aims to embed self-sustaining industry practices regarding EDI in new circular business models; and to establish a knowledge transfer network to drive EDI transformation, as well as to develop and share best practice.”
Professor Ian Reaney, Director of the TFI Network+, said: “The Network has a strong awareness of how vital the social sciences are to the future of the Foundation Industries, and we hope the principals and ideas in this research can help boost sustainability within the sectors. We are pleased to announce the results of our latest funding call from TFI Network+, with 5 innovative research proposals gaining funding.”
