Wednesday, 10 May 2023
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.
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.”
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Luis Torres in the Nottingham University Business School at Luis.Torres@nottingham.ac.uk or; Dr Maria Karafyllia in the Nottingham University Business School at Maria.Karafyllia@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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