RSC: Sustainability: The PLFs Revolution

Our 2040 roadmap for sustainable polymers in liquid formulations

SUSTAINABILITY

The PLFs Revolution Our 2040 roadmap for sustainable polymers in liquid formulations

Acknowledgements We are grateful to the Sustainable PLFs Task Force for their valuable input in creating the roadmap for sustainable PLFs and many other contributors to this work. We would like to thank in particular Professor Roy Sandbach OBE FRSC for chairing the task force, Dr Ged O’Shea FRSC, Dr Charmian Abbot, Dr Jason Harcup FRSC, Mark Cooper, Dr Angela MacOscar, Dr Yves Vandenberghe, Professor Ian Bell FRSC, Dr Andreas Künkel, Dr Damian Kelly, and Peter Waites, for their active participation as members of the task force in the mission-oriented innovation process. We are also grateful to the wide range of academic stakeholders and industry specialists who participated in the development process in technical focus group sessions or generously gave their time for interviews. Special thanks to Professor Andrew Dove, Professor Michael Shaver, Professor Michael Zumstein and Dr. Michael Carus. We would like to offer our special thanks the project team at the Royal Society of Chemistry: Professor Anju Massey-Brooker FRSC, Dr Neil Clark, Dr Aurora Antemir, Jon Edwards, Edwin Silvester, Sean Douglass, Sarah O'Reilly, Chris Gooch and Siobhan Godwood. We would also like to thank our partners at Transformation by Design: Professor Rowan Conway, Justin Beirold, Nishita Dewan, Luke Bevan, Nora Clinton, Giorgia Sharpe, Ella Firebrace, Abigail Bulley and Shiza Naveed, for their strategic advice and work in the production of this report.

Introducing our new perspectives series In a world where global challenges and advances in technology bring both uncertainty and new possibilities, the chemical sciences have a critical role to play. But what will that role be? How can we maximise the impact we make across academia, industry, government and education? And what actions should we take to create a stronger, more vibrant culture for research that helps enable new discoveries? Our perspectives series addresses these questions through four lenses: talent, discovery, sustainability and research culture. Drawing together insights and sharp opinion, our goal is to increase understanding and inform debate – putting the chemical sciences at the heart of the big issues the world is facing.

Sustainability Our planet faces critical challenges – from plastics polluting the oceans, to the urgent need to find more sustainable resources. But where will new solutions come from? How can we achieve global collaboration to address the big issues? And where can the chemical sciences deliver the biggest impacts? Talent Talent is the lifeblood of the chemical sciences. But how do we inspire, nurture, promote and protect it? Where will we find the chemical scientists of the future? And what action is required to ensure we give everyone the greatest opportunity to make a positive difference? Discovery Chemistry is core to advances across every facet of human life. But where do the greatest opportunities lie? How will technology and the digital era shape the science we create? And what steps should we take to ensure that curiosity-driven research continues to unlock new opportunities in unexpected ways? Research Culture Globally, scientific research in academia and industry fuels both progress and innovation. But how do we create more inclusive, diverse and vibrant environments for research, that lead to better, more open science? And how should we recognise the breadth and diversity of the people, contributions and achievements that enable new discoveries?

Find out more at www.rsc.org/policy-evidence-campaigns

Foreword Polymers in liquid formulations (PLFs) play a vital role in our lives – from improving food productivity to treating wastewater – but they also have significant environmental impacts. Every year, around 36 million tonnes of these materials are made from fossil sources – enough to fill Wembley Stadium 32 times over. While plastics have risen high on the sustainability agenda, other polymers such as PLFs have been neglected. We have an opportunity to take decisive action. At the Royal

Society of Chemistry (RSC), we are proud to be working with some of the leading chemistry-using companies in the world to put the issue of PLFs on the map. Our Sustainable PLFs Task Force has set an overarching ambition for industry: transition to a sustainable PLFs market by 2040. Achieving this will require a concerted, coordinated effort across the whole innovation ecosystem – from building the fundamental knowledge base, to developing networks for collaboration, investing in research and innovation, and enacting effective policies and regulation. We cannot afford to wait. PLFs have a direct impact on the planetary boundaries of climate change and novel entities, both of which have already breached safe limits. The UK has the potential to be a world leader in sustainable PLFs, but the scale of the challenge is vast. Market forces alone are unlikely to deliver change at the pace and scale required. Collaboration will be required across the value chain and interventions will need to be designed and evaluated from a lifecycle perspective. Our action plan sets out key actions for the RSC, industry, academia and policymakers to kick-start the transition. And our roadmap for sustainable PLFs sets out two critical missions and nine priorities to mobilise focused collaboration, investment and innovation across the system. We are calling for industry, academia and policymakers to work with us to catalyse the transition to a world in which we enjoy the benefits of PLFs while protecting the health of people and the planet.

Professor Gillian Reid FRSC FRSE CChem President, Royal Society of Chemistry

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06 Actions: from mission to transition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 ActionsfortheRSC..........................09 Actionsforacademia ........................10 Actions for industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Actions for UK policymakers and funders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Actions for supranational policymakers and funders . . . . . . . . . . 12 Understandingtheproblem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 PLFsandsustainability........................13 Whyweneedtotakeactionnow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Ourapproach........................17 Developing a shared terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Mission-oriented innovation methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 AroadmapforsustainablePLFs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Oneambition............................20 Twomissions............................20 Fiveproblemareas..........................21 Ninepriorities............................23 Fourecosystempillars........................28 Transitionperiodto2040. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Casestudies.........................30 AppendixA:Glossary.....................34 Appendix B: Sustainable PLFs Task Force members . . . . . . . . 35 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Introduction

PLFs: the next sustainability frontier Very few people outside of the chemical industries will have heard of polymers in liquid formulations – or PLFs – but almost everyone in the world interacts with them on a daily basis. Found in millions of consumer and industrial products, and comprising hundreds of types of polymers, PLFs are used in everything from treating the water we drink to formulating the soap we wash our hands with. Unfortunately, the way that they are currently made, used and disposed of is not sustainable. Every year around 36 million tonnes of these materials are made from fossil sources – enough to fill Wembley Stadium 32 times over. Finding ways to replace fossil feedstocks, reuse and recycle PLFs is not only a priority for a sustainable future, but it also represents a huge financial opportunity. It is estimated that the value of PLFs that are never recovered is about $125 billion a year. Despite the widespread use and importance of PLFs, the majority of polymer research, funding and collaboration focuses on plastics. In recent years researchers and policymakers have rallied around the challenge of plastic pollution, and we are starting to see some progress. We have an opportunity to act decisively to deliver a similar level of sustainability improvements for PLFs. A similarly focused approach is needed to understand and address the impacts of PLFs on the health of our planet.

Identifying the challenges Our initial research 1 highlighted the importance of investing in efforts such as collecting waste streams, recycling, developing more sustainable manufacturing methods, and finding robust alternatives to fossil fuel feedstocks. It was clear that addressing these challenges would require unprecedented collaboration between organisations and companies across the value chain. This analysis remains the same today: starting with the chemical producers that make PLFs, to the companies that use them to formulate products, the consumers that use and dispose of them, and those that collect the waste. The Sustainable PLFs Task Force In 2021, we set up the Sustainable PLFs Task Force, building on our research on the PLFs landscape 1 and Polymers in liquid formulations: Opportunities for a sustainable future 2 . The task force brought together industry leaders from key sectors. It was supported by contributors that included world-leading experts from UK and European academia alongside industry, national networks, Catapult centres, UK funders and standards specialists. Our aim was to develop clear leadership and priorities to catalyse a step change in sustainability for PLFs. Together, we have set out this roadmap for sustainable PLFs.

Actions: from missions to transition Our ambition is to achieve a transition to sustainable PLFs by 2040. Our roadmap sets out two missions that catalyse this transition and make progress towards systemic changes by 2030:

Develop and scale biodegradable PLFs by 2030.

Advance circular economy infrastructure for PLFs by 2030.

We have identified nine priorities related to these missions as part of a dynamic experimentation pathway (see pages 23 to 27). We call on stakeholders across industry, academia and policymaking to work together to deliver these priorities.

Please contact plfs@rsc.org if you would like to get involved.

Actions for key stakeholders

We must all take responsibility for sustainability, so in addition to the priorities to deliver our missions by 2030, we have identified a range of actions for stakeholders across the whole value chain to support the transition to sustainable PLFs by 2040. Actions for the RSC: The RSC has an important role to play. We convene and mobilise key actors in the innovation ecosystem to drive solutions to cross-sector industry challenges; we are a trusted and authoritative voice working with governments and policymakers on matters impacting chemical sciences businesses and chemical innovation; and we are a leading chemical science publisher.

At the RSC, we will:

Bring together stakeholders across industry, academia and the policy community to collaborate on a pre-competitive basis throughout the value chain on research and innovation to enable a shift towards sustainable PLFs.

Provide a forum for the PLFs stakeholders and supply chains to track and discuss progress towards the delivery of the roadmap and completion of the missions.

Engage with a diverse range of funding bodies, from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to regulators, private finance and philanthropists, to inform innovation funding and form a portfolio of projects to catalyse the delivery of both missions. Promote research on PLFs, including supporting academic communities to publish research articles on this topic, starting with a PLFs-themed issue across several of our peer-reviewed journals. Assist in the development of appropriate regulation, governance, standards and metrics for the sustainable production, use and recycling of PLFs with UK and European partners, starting by integrating our work on PLFs into that of the European Chemical Industry Council. Host a series of topic-specific workshops and networking events to enable knowledge-sharing and collaboration focused on sustainable PLFs. This will also include a large-scale annual PLFs conference. Convene collaborative consortia for system-wide and game-changing research and innovation project proposals that will deliver biodegradable PLFs and advance circular infrastructure.

Actions for academia Universities and research institutions have a critical role to play in advancing the research that will underpin innovation and effective regulation, as well as developing the specialist skills required for sustainable PLFs.

We are calling for academic institutions to:

Adopt the PLF terminology and publish research to stimulate development of this field of research and innovation.

Develop research focused on the Five Fs: feedstock, the formulation of PLFs, their functionality, their fate – including the effects of PLFs pollution on the environment – and the future environment for PLFs.

Collaborate with industry and funders to develop RD&I programmes that tackle sustainability transition issues faced by industry across the lifecycle.

Develop and enhance specialist training pathways on sustainability assessment to facilitate evaluation and monitoring of circularity of PLFs (and other materials relevant to sustainability), including through lifecycle assessment (LCA) methodologies 3 .

Actions for industry Industry will be the driving force of the transition to sustainable PLFs by developing innovative products that can be marketed at scale. We are calling on businesses with an active interest in PLFs to:

1 2

Commit to developing and scaling biodegradable PLFs by 2030.

Commit to advancing the circular economy infrastructure for PLFs by 2030, across the value chain.

Collaborate in consortia funding applications to build capability for the transition to sustainable PLFs.

Collaborate where feasible on a precompetitive basis throughout the value chain on research and innovation that will enable the shift to sustainable PLFs, including committing financial resources to precompetitive RD&I projects. Commit to a shared knowledge base via increased non-proprietary information sharing to upskill the industry ecosystem through publication, engagement and collaboration.

Make internal infrastructure and process changes to reduce potential environmental pollution via PLFs.

Actions for UK policymakers and funders Policymakers and funders have a key role to play in incentivising, supporting and sustaining research and innovation. We recommend the following steps for UK governments and funding bodies:

Establish a national chemicals regulator that bring greater cohesiveness and connectivity across government departments, recognising the current coordination challenge across departments. Ensure UKRI recognises PLFs as a large-scale sustainability challenge linked to its ‘Building a Green Future' strategic theme, to signal the potential value of research proposals linked to the two PLFs missions. Encourage the UK Government, UKRI, ARIA and other research funders to recognise the sustainability challenge PLFs present and acknowledge the innovation opportunities from sustainable PLFs.

Actions for supranational policymakers and funders Supranational policymakers such as the UN and European Union and funders can support the transition through the following measures:

Integrate the concept of PLFs into overarching international policy frameworks, such as the UN Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and the Prevention of Pollution; the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; the European Green Deal; and the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. Call on the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and OECD to work with industry to establish new metrics for scrutiny protocols pertaining to safety, toxicology and sustainability of PLFs.

Widen future Horizon Europe grants to also focus on non-plastic polymers in their circular bioeconomy joint undertaking calls.

Understanding the problem

PLFs and sustainability

What are PLFs? Polymers in liquid formulations (PLFs) are polymers that are used in a broad group of polymers that are used in formulations that are liquid during the manufacturing process and/or are liquid up to the point of use. Which sectors use PLFs? PLFs are widely used across eight key markets, which have a combined value of $1.27 trillion. These are adhesives and sealants, agriculture, household cleaning, inks and coatings, lubricants, paints and coatings, personal care and cosmetics, and water treatment. More than 85% – 31 million metric tonnes – of PLFs made each year are estimated to be sold in the paints and coatings, inks and coatings, and adhesives and sealants markets.

Why do PLFs matter for sustainability? Around 36 million metric tonnes of PLFs are made and sold for $125 billion each year. The way PLFs are made using petrochemical feedstocks, used and disposed of is putting unnecessary strain on the environment by releasing carbon dioxide into our atmosphere, using up the earth's finite resources, relying on fossil fuels and generating waste. PLFs relate to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through both their applications and environmental impacts through their lifecycles. They can be linked to seven of the 17 SDGs:

Agrochemicals is the second largest market for PLFs, many of which are applied to land as components of fertilisers, soil conditioners, wetting agents and seed coatings. Increased sustainable agricultural productivity can reduce land requirement and biodiversity loss by improving soil and crop efficiency for global food productivity. Ensuring such materials are biodegradable is an important challenge.

PLFs used as flocculants make a significant contribution to clean water and wastewater treatment. However, PLFs also enter waterways as waste through products that are washed down drains. Designing these materials to be safely biodegradable in the environments they could enter will reduce any burden they may place on the environment.

A high percentage of PLFs are liquid at the point of waste and so will be discharged into waste water treatment systems or will be washed directly into water courses. It is imperative that industry understands how to mitigate harm for PLFs that go down the drain. Furthermore, as the chemical industry grows and supports other industries, a circular approach to PLFs and the products they contribute to can enable greater resource efficiency and reduced waste.

Moving away from fossil feedstocks and towards biobased feedstocks and a more circular economy will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with PLFs.

Curable PLFs such as paint or resins may enter the marine environment as solid objects and break down to microplastics. Biodegradability will reduce this environmental burden.

Why we need to take action now

Our planet cannot support ‘business as usual’ The idea of nine planetary boundaries that define a ‘safe operating space’ for humanity was proposed more than a decade ago 4 . Breaching these thresholds will cause large-

scale and/or irreversible environmental change. PLFs directly impact the planetary boundary of ‘novel entities’ – which includes synthetic chemical waste – as well as that of ‘climate change’. According to recent analyses, both of these limits have already been breached.

While industry is working hard to rapidly reduce its carbon footprint, we are also seeing continued compound annual growth of consumer demand for essential household items, mobility solutions, and personal care products.

As the global population grows, the need for PLFs will only increase. This in turn will contribute to rises in material production and waste generation, which are already expected to double by 2050 5 .

Graphic credit: Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, based on analysis in Wang-Erlandsson et al 2022.

The chemical industry is at an inflection point The chemicals industry plays a key role in tackling sustainability challenges such as climate change and pollution 6 . Sustainability is now a mature discipline in business, but the critical nature of the climate crisis is now driving an inflection point for industry. This momentum behind innovation in the chemicals industry is now coming from rising consumer awareness, tighter governmental policy and more stringent regulatory environments. Having learned from plastics, industry must now act quickly to transition to a more sustainable PLFs ecosystem. In practice, this could mean proactively shifting from petrochemicals to a broader range of sustainable feedstock materials from different waste environments such as marine, agriculture and domestic waste; and moving from a linear economy toward a more circular one, whereby waste is minimised and reuse and recycling are maximised.

FOSSILDERIVED FEEDSTOCKS

SUSTAINABLE FEEDSTOCKS

RECYCLE

FARMING COLLECTION

POLYMER PRODUCER

REMANUFACTURE

PRODUCT FORMULATOR

REGENERATION BIOSPHERE

REUSE

RETAILER

BIOGAS

REPAIR

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

CONSUMER

COLLECTION

EXTRACTION OF BIOCHEMICAL FEEDSTOCK

ADAPTED FROM Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Circular economy systems diagram (February 2019) www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org Drawing based on Braungart & McDonough, Cradle to Cradle (C2C)

MINIMISE EMISSIONS TO LANDFILL AND THE ENVIRONMENT

This diagram illustrates a conceptual circular economy framework for PLFs.

We need a whole system approach The scale of the innovation challenge is vast and will require a range of transitions: the transition to biobased feedstocks, the development and adoption of fully biodegradable PLFs, and the adoption of sustainable and circular waste practices. Market forces alone are unlikely to deliver change at the pace and scale required. A transition to sustainable PLFs will require intervention and collaboration across the value chain.

Our approach

Developing a shared terminology

One of the Sustainable PLFs Task Force's objectives was to establish a shared language for describing and investigating the problem. For example, ‘sustainability’ can be interpreted in many ways, and so we needed to define what a ‘sustainable PLF’ is to better describe the scope of the challenge. We produced a glossary of terms that enabled us to discuss specific concepts across the value chain and facilitate discussions between industry, academia and governments. We have included the glossary in Appendix A .

Mission-oriented innovation methodology

The Sustainable PLFs Task Force took a mission-oriented innovation approach 7 to developing the roadmap set out in this report. This methodology has been developed to co-design collaborative, dynamic innovation programmes orientated toward global challenges at a scale beyond what single industry players can address alone. A mission-led approach recognises that innovation takes place in a complex ecosystem, and it is difficult to set out detailed technical pathways to specific goals in advance. For example, work still needs to be done to understand and monitor the lifecycle impact of current PLFs and generate solutions and we cannot at this stage anticipate or pick innovation ‘winners’. The aim of defining tangible missions is to mobilise innovation efforts and collaboration by providing direction and identifying tangible goals for collaboration. We set an impact horizon of 2040, recognising that it takes considerable time to shift entire value chains and achieve industrial transitions. We sought to define realistic innovation pathways that could nurture new industrial landscapes for sustainable PLFs. Our roadmap aims to give some clarity to what this transition may look like for industry and catalyse a large-scale programme of action. It sets out:

n One ambition

n Two critical missions for a rapid transition to sustainable PLFs

n Five problems that the transition must solve

n Nine priorities to deliver the missions

n Four key pillars of a flourishing sustainable PLFs ecosystem

Our 2040 roadmap for sustainable PLFs

l e

O N

2023 Ambition: sustainable PLFs

l e O N

One ambition

2023 Ambition: sustainable PLFs

Our ambition is to enable large-scale industrial transitions to sustainable practices by 2040.

l e O N

2023 Ambition: sustainable PLFs

Two missions

To achieve our 2040 ambition, our Sustainable PLFs Task Force identified two shorter- term missions. Our aim is to mobilise industry, researchers, regulators and policymakers to create a step change in innovation that can lead to industry-wide transition. MISSION 1: Develop and scale biodegradable PLFs by 2030. This mission focuses on mitigating the environmental impact of those PLFs that cannot be collected and recycled, and thus enter water or soil as liquids or sludge. This will incentivise innovation and enable accountability by providing a clear framework for evaluating new polymers/products. MISSION 2: Advance circular economy infrastructure for PLFs by 2030. We aim to set a standard for the recycling and circularity of PLFs by 2030 and to facilitate cross-sector collaboration. Opportunities for circularity include increasing formulation efficacy; reducing non- essential aesthetic usage of polymers; designing for durability; designing for end-of-life; reformulating away from specific polymers; new business models; and incorporating recycled materials into production. While there are recovery challenges for PLFs that reach consumers, significant progress can be made in recoverability in industrial domains where collection is already regulated requirement by producers, such as sealants, paints and lubricants.

l e O N

5 Five problem areas

2023 Ambition: sustainable PLFs

It is impossible to understand the sustainability challenges inherent in PLFs without looking at their full lifecycle – and we urge all stakeholders to do so in the delivery of our missions.

Inputs at the feedstock level will by definition impact the outputs at the point of fate, and so a holistic approach to sustainability requires that the RSC map the breadth and complexity of the PLFs landscape. We defined the 'Five Fs' framework considering issues arising from PLFs as feedstock , the formulation of PLFs, their functionality , the fate of PLFs, and the future environment for PLFs. We offer this as a useful framework to analyse the impact of PLFs and understand the scale of research and innovation required.

1. Feedstocks Feedstocks are the building blocks of polymers. Plotting the transition away from fossil feedstocks will force us to consider the impacts on industry, biodiversity and land use of this shift. We must test assumptions for pivoting to bio- based and alternatives to virgin fossil feedstocks, particularly looking at the implications for resource security and de- fossilisation. Functionality Adoption of new polymers will only be successful if they replicate – or improve upon – the functionality of fossil fuel-dependent incumbents without placing an onerous cost burden on producers and consumers committed to emphasising sustainability. It is therefore crucial that we find a balance between performance and cost. 2. 3. Formulation PLF formulation is the chemical dispersed in a solvent or water. This is then mixed with other ingredients to create products. The production processes used to manufacture PLFs have a huge bearing on their impact, both in products and in the wider world. We must predict how to match the performance of best-in-class existing PLFs and test for new behaviours.

4. Fate There is currently a knowledge gap relating to complex interactions between the diverse types of PLFs in different forms and the wider environment at the end of their lives. We must ensure the next generation of PLFs are benign by design, with biodegradability or circularity built into the architecture of the polymers when considering post- consumer use. PLFs present a technically complex challenge as the fate of materials in the environment differs by product range, with differences in solid waste disposal and collection, and release into air, land and marine environments. Different types of waste will accompany each use: for example, paints and coatings will vary from crop protection or personal care. Sustainable fate cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution. 5. Futures An industry-wide transition requires a diverse and considered approach to maximise long-term benefits. Guiding principles, policy and regulatory frameworks, infrastructure developments, science-based targets and monitoring mechanisms must cover all aspects of sustainability across the nine planetary boundaries. Mapping the consequences of the transition will help stakeholders to assess impacts on the industry value chain, as will testing shared models and governance frameworks.

l e O N

9 Nine priorities Our Sustainable PLFs Task Force identified nine priorities that could catalyse system-wide transformation and attract large-scale funding. Each of these priority areas strengthens one or more of the four pillars needed for a transition to a sustainable PLFs ecosystem.

2023 Ambition: sustainable PLFs

Priority 1 BIODEGRADABILITY NETWORK What is it?

A network of partners consisting of universities, research labs and other stakeholder organisations committed to advancing biodegradability. Dispersed activity already exists, focussing on fossil-based PLFs. This network will share knowledge and infrastructure at a precompetitive level.

What will it enable? This network will generate

fundamental research into metrics, measures, methods and standards, as well as the processing facilities needed to progress the development of biodegradable materials.

It will encourage all stakeholders to follow the same methods and make the key changes needed to produce sustainable PLFs, increase the accessibility of knowledge, support the standardisation of methodologies, and engage with regulatory bodies and policymakers on the development of appropriate regulatory and policy frameworks. Academic organisations, potentially with backing from industry through matched funding, will investigate the biodegradability potential of various new materials to maximise their suitability and usability.

Priority 2 CIRCULARITY NETWORK

What is it? A network of organisations consisting of academic institutions, research labs, and industry collaborating to produce ground-breaking circular economy research. What will it enable? This will investigate and test disposal processes and processing facilities with the purpose of increasing standardisation across the value chain.

Priority 3 MISSION INNOVATION FUNDING CONSORTIUM

What is it? We aim to build a comprehensive innovation consortium that can align with both EU and UKRI policy and attract funding for consortia

proposals in line with the two missions identified above. What will it enable?

The EU’s framework program for R&I uses a mission-orientated research and

innovation approach to spur multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral research on concrete societal problems. This funding consortium can facilitate multimillion-pound

cross-sector collaborative bids for research and innovation to deliver the two missions, including fundamental research, R&I testing facilities and some of the other priorities set out in this report.

Priority 4 COLLABORATIVE DIGITAL TWIN

What is it? A collaborative digital twin to simulate scenarios in feedstock demand variations, production processes, formulation behaviour, end-of-life fate and sustainability assessment tools. What will it enable? comprehensively understand risks and trace the impacts of PLFs across the value chain. In the context of PLF research, a collaborative digital twin would rapidly and comprehensively advance innovation and regulation as demand changes. Our task force stressed the need for sustainability assessment tools to

Priority 5 FORMULATION TESTING AND SCALING APPLIED RESEARCH CAPABILITY

What is it? Rapid design and performance testing of novel PLFs to replace existing fossil-based polymers. This comes with predictive modelling development, via machine learning it trains the model to design new formulations rapidly. What will it enable? Designing a new polymer is usually a five- year cycle. Changing hundreds of them will take decades, so developing a high- throughput capability will enable us to meet our targets and transition to fossil-free.

Priority 6 EXPLORE A MASS BALANCE CHAIN OF CUSTODY PLATFORM

What is it? Work by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has scoped the potential of a mass balance model 8 , such as the BASF biomass balance approach, as a verification platform to track the amount of sustainably sourced biological materials, circular polymers and fossil-based polymers in new formulations. What will it enable? A ledger system could support a transition period where formulations are likely to include a mix of virgin fossil PLFs, second-generation fossil and biobased feedstocks. This material balance approach could guide the transition to 100% sustainable PLFs and improve consumer trust.

Priority 7

NATIONAL CHEMICAL REGULATION AND MONITORING FRAMEWORK

What is it? A joined-up approach to monitoring and regulation that makes best use of the currently disparate skills, resources and capacity to deliver more effective, rigorous observation and control of pollutants. A gold standard to aim for is to establish

a national chemicals regulator that brings greater cohesiveness and connectivity across government departments. What will it enable? Insight and data where little exists; more science- informed regulation; greater public trust; better water, soil and air quality.

Priority 8

PLFs REGULATION, GOVERNANCE, STANDARDS AND METRICS WORKING GROUP

What is it? A cross-sectoral working group of stakeholders from industry, academia and policy to develop recommendations on regulation, governance, standards and metrics related to sustainable PLFs. The outputs would be used to engage with policymakers and standard setters. What will it enable? Consistent inputs, recommendations go to a wide range of policy for a including UK, European and international regulation and policy. This will provide clarity to ensure international regulation, governance, standards and metrics are based on accurate scientific evidence and understanding of business and operational models.

Priority 9 CONSEQUENCES OBSERVATORY

What is it?

A cross-sectoral oversight group monitoring the transition to sustainable PLFs by 2040. This will consider foresight of scenarios for impacts of change. In particular, the impacts on supply chains and climate change must be assessed and communicated as transition advances. What will it enable? As the world shifts away from fossil fuel use, the sustainability transition will fundamentally reshape the value chain and there will be important considerations for mitigating harm to the environment, society and the economy. This oversight group could monitor the complex environmental, social and economic impacts that come with transition. The observatory would look at system wide challenges and risks and engage stakeholders to consider environmental impacts on land-use and marine environments as well as socio-economic impacts on supply chains, communities, employment and skills. The observatory can help industry and communities prepare for a globally fair transition to sustainable PLFs 9 .

4 Four ecosystem pillars There is no shortage of potential innovation activity when it comes to sustainable PLFs. We anticipate that delivery of our nine priorities will catalyse a vibrant collaborative research and innovation ecosystem. This is essential to enabling industry-wide transition and would comprise four pillars :

l e O N

2023 Ambition: sustainable PLFs

THE KNOWLEDGE BASE A healthy innovation and research ecosystem requires fundamental research and a healthy skills base. Universities and research institutes have a role to play in expanding curricula to equip students to pursue research and careers in sustainable PLFs. This includes contextualising existing teaching within broader sustainability issues, promoting multidisciplinary research and enhancing skills and training in lifecycle analysis, which are currently lacking in the UK.

COLLABORATIONS Achieving the transition to sustainable PLFs will require new networks Within industry, there is considerable scope for more pre-competitive collaboration to speed up innovation, for example sharing findings about polymers that have been tested and found to be ineffective. Equally, industry will need to partner with academia and with organisations that have important and mechanisms to enable collaboration. expertise or influence on the wider PLFs field such as the OECD, the Ellen Macarthur Foundation and BSI.

APPLIED RESEARCH AND INNOVATION Applied research and innovation is essential to develop solutions that can be marketed and delivered at scale. Investment is needed across the Five F problem areas (see pages 23-27) and solutions must be designed and evaluated in a way that considers their lifecycle impact. Industry will be the driving force in developing new products and services, but there may also be a role for public services, such as recycling facilities.

POLICY AND REGULATION Policy, regulation, governance and standards can play a powerful role in catalysing and supporting safe and effective innovation. For example, articulating and mandating minimum sustainability standards for PLFs could level the commercial playing field, incentivise innovation, increase accountability and influence consumer behaviour. Industry and government need to work together to enable regulation and policy to keep up with a rapidly developing area of scientific knowledge and industry practice.

l e

O N

2023 Ambition: sustainable PLFs

Transition period to 2040

We selected 2030 as the time horizon for the two missions, as we believe this is both a realistic timeframe for tangible progress and a near enough goal to mobilise action now. At this stage the priority is catalysing efforts to understand and address the technical, commercial and policy challenges associated with these missions. We believe that this will catalyse a series of wider transitions to create a sustainable PLFs ecosystem by 2040. We expect this transition will include a wide range of activity such as: n establishing an active field of sustainable PLFs research as a foundational knowledge base n convening policymakers to build a clear policy, standards and regulatory framework governing PLFs n engaging industry in the design and development of new feedstock supply chains n building on the knowledge base to track behavioural shifts and changing market demand n exploring routes to new infrastructure development for reuse of waste streams n catalysing new networks and partnerships to enable bold collaborative innovation and more rapid adoption of sustainable PLFs

CASE STUDY

A QUEST TO DEVELOP AND SOURCE BIODEGRADABLE FEEDSTOCKS BASF is working to identify sources of biomass and new process routes to convert these into usable feedstock materials. The company is particularly keen to use secondary materials, including waste and by-products, to avoid issues such as competition versus food production and land use issues.

Cost barriers, limited supply options and outdated lifecycle assessment (LCA) methods are negatively affecting the availability of bio-based raw materials. Investments in alternative production processes, improved communications about the potential of renewables and political intervention are all seen as potential remedies. While 36 million tonnes of PLFs are produced annually, this is still considered a comparatively low volume in the world of big chemistry. This in turn means there are fewer economies of scale, meaning higher prices and lower availability. At present, LCA methods do not reflect the value of renewable raw materials. Developing consistent methodologies across industry is therefore key to ensuring transparency and consistency. BASF has been working with Together for Sustainability, a cross-industry initiative of 34 member companies, to develop, agree

and implement a consistent approach to product carbon footprints. A further issue is that there is still a lack of knowledge in the public sphere about the problems posed by current materials, with misinformation also a threat to the implementation of more environmentally progressive changes. Without general calls for change and understanding of the issues, adoption of bio-based chemical feedstocks might proceed at a sub-optimal pace. New political frameworks could also expedite change and encourage producers to look at bio-based solutions and could contribute to raising public awareness. BASF is already taking a progressive approach to sustainability, working towards increasing the level of renewables in PLFs and looking into how product carbon footprints are monitored. As an industry leader, its actions could encourage others to follow a similar suit.

CASE STUDY

CRODA AND THE UNIVERSITIES OF NOTTINGHAM AND YORK: A PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP TO DELIVER BIO-BASED AND BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS An AI-aided interdisciplinary ‘prosperity partnership’ has set its sights on developing new building blocks for biodegradable polymers.

The industry-academia collaboration aims to demonstrate the potential of bio-based monomers that can create more sustainable polymers in liquid formulations (PLFs). It will also look at the end of life, highlighting polymers that possess acceptable biodegradability rates. The anticipated outcome is a collection of new PLFs demonstrating a range of performance characteristics and degradation rates that will fulfil the needs of Croda’s broad customer base. With significant resources available at two world-class centres of green and sustainable chemistry, this could lead to the synthesis of a vast library of functional, eco-friendly PLFs. The partnership will incorporate machine learning, which will maximise efficiency by analysing the vast number of potential target monomers and polymers. There are even potential policy benefits as data sharing concerning structure- performance degradability could help to deliver new standards. The academic community will also benefit too, with all findings shared through peer-reviewed publications, conferences and events.

A key early challenge was identifying the opportunities for new biobased and biodegradable polymers within Croda’s portfolio, with the Nottingham and York experts uniquely positioned to address this. Through a series of facilitated workshops, scientists from all three organisations co-created the research programme, with senior company executives ensuring the project focused on commercially relevant outcomes. The unique flexibility offered by the EPSRC Prosperity Partnership scheme was ideal to fund the research programme. Another benefit is that it will provide significant learning opportunities and enhanced career prospects for postgraduate and PhD students working with us on this project. This alliance creates synergies for PLF production and there are hopes the work will lead to collaborations with the UK Catalysis Hub. UK expertise in the use of techniques including microwave reactors, supercritical CO 2 and other safer solvents will also increase.

CASE STUDY

and

TACKLING PROBLEMS ALONG THE VALUE CHAIN IN THE PAINT INDUSTRY The paint industry faces challenges to balance at-times conflicting demands – but experts at Crown Paints are looking at solutions at both ends of the product lifecycle.

be durable. This is an important property of paints and another sustainability aspect, especially for paints applied in exterior surfaces which are expected to last longer but, at the same time, are directly exposed to weather conditions and are therefore more prone to wear-and-tear. The issue of paint waste is also high on the sustainability agenda. Crown operates the can-back scheme, where customers can return their empty paint cans to be recycled, and the Kick Out The Can initiative, where customers return their leftover paint which is then converted to recycled paint. Both are delivered across the UK through Crown’s store network, and both accept packaging and paint from any paint brand.

Companies need to give consumers top- quality products that satisfy functional requirements while minimising environmental impact at a competitive price. Sustainability is very important for Crown Paints, which has undertaken several initiatives to optimise their products. One key area is the use of sustainable raw materials. Crown Paints is looking into the possibility of using bio-based and recycled raw materials in their products, and is analysing their pros and cons. These materials often have lower carbon footprint, but it is important to assess their performance across several sustainability impact categories. One of the challenges here is that low- carbon and sustainable solutions must also

CASE STUDY

MULTI-SECTOR COLLABORATION OFFERS CIRCULAR ECONOMY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WATER TREATMENT INDUSTRY An innovative £6.1million project will explore opportunities to recover biopolymers from wastewater for reuse in various industrial processes.

United Utilities are one of several water treatment companies to have earned a share of the £38million Water Breakthrough Challenge funding pot. The third round of the Ofwat-run challenge provides grants for environmentally friendly initiatives that provide benefits for customers, society and the environment. Combining government funding and industry ingenuity, there is the opportunity to create economic and ecological benefits. United Utilities believes its scheme has the potential to develop new markets and create jobs, while the more sustainable products could reduce carbon footprint and drive progress towards net zero. These sorts of initiatives and interventions are needed to help the water industry on its quest for change. Fossil-derived PLFs, such as polyacrylamide, are currently commonly used in both clean water treatment and wastewater treatment and may be used as a flocculant or thickening agent to help bind particulate impurities. Given the volumes of

water treated, PLFs are a major contributor to the sector’s carbon footprint. The lack of research into and availability of biobased alternatives means there is a problem facing the water treatment industry. It is expected that solutions might be years away but there is an appetite to reach carbon neutrality. The sector is heavily regulated, which poses another issue as all alternatives will need to be thoroughly tested and approved before wider implementation. Supply security and resilience are both also important factors to consider. However, through multi-sector collaborations, such as with Ofwat’s challenge, and investing in innovation as United Utilities is doing, there is optimism for the future. United Utilities’ project is being delivered in collaboration with RHDHV, Cellvation, Severn Trent Water, South West Water, Glasgow Caledonian University, Aquaminerals, Cranfield University and Yara.

Appendix A: Glossary

Polymers Polymers are long-chain molecules built from smaller repeating units called monomers. Some polymers contain only one type of monomer as its building block; others, known as copolymers, may contain two or more different types of monomer. The OECD defines a polymer in more detail as: “a substance consisting of molecules characterised by the sequence of one or more types of monomer units and comprising a simple weight majority of molecules containing at least three monomer units which are covalently bound to at least one other monomer unit or other reactant and consists of less than a simple weight majority of molecules of the same molecular weight. Such molecules must be distributed over a range of molecular weights wherein differences in the molecular weight are primarily attributable to differences in the number of monomer units. PLFs (polymers in liquid formulations) A broad group of polymers that are used in formulations that are liquid during the manufacturing process and/or are liquid up to the point of utilisation. Some common uses of PLFs are as thickeners, emulsifiers and binders within a formulation. PLFs are used across a wide variety of sectors for both consumer and industrial products. They are important ingredients in sectors such as: adhesives and sealants, agriculture, household cleaning, inks and coatings, lubricants, personal care and cosmetic products, and water treatment. Sustainable polymer A polymer material - including PLFs and plastics - that addresses the needs of end-users while minimising the negative environmental impacts of production and consumption, and considers the needs of future generations. Biodegradable polymer Biodegradation is a subset of degradation involving mineralisation by microorganisms. A biodegradable polymer undergoes degradation by organisms and biomolecules such as enzymes, forming small molecules that are metabolised by natural organisms. Biodegradable polymers should break down into simpler substances - such as carbon dioxide, water and others – that can be returned to the environment with minimal pollution or damaging effects. Circular polymer A polymer designed to minimise waste and maximise reusability. When a product reaches the end of its useful life, if it does not biodegrade, its polymer materials can be physically or chemically recycled through energy efficient processes. These materials can then be fed back into a restorative system in which waste is minimised as materials are reused for the same or different applications.

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36

www.rsc.org

Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog