Please click on a title to jump to the information and presentations list for that event
Feedstocks for Bioenergy: Straw for energy 12 December, Honingham Thorpe, Norwich
Designing Green Interiors 8 December, Watford
Low Carbon Construction sessions at Norfolk Constructing the Future Conference 1 December, Norwich
Feedstocks for Bioenergy: A look at perennial energy crops 11 November 2011 Harpenden
A Fresh Approach to Packaging and Food Waste 10 October 2011 Chatteris
Low Carbon Construction: PassivHaus and Performance 14 September 2011 Norwich
Rush for Resources: Ethics of building a bio-based economy 1 September 2011 Cambridge
Opportunities, challenges and advances in processing and recycling of biopolymers
23 March 2011, Thetford, Norfolk
Crop sciences and agri-biotech mission to the UK December 2010
Presentations from the visit in early December 2010
Biochar Steering Group meeting - 22 November 2010
Biolubricants - Oiling a Green Economy 16 November 2010
Presentations from the networking event at Keystone Innovation Centre
Functional Food for Thought - From the networking event at The Maltings, Ely on 13 July 2010
Business opportunities using East of England Timber
From the stakeholder meeting at Santon Downham Centre, Brandon, Suffolk on 27 May 2010
Bio-based materials in Sport - event at the University of Essex, Colchester on 20 April 2010
Natural Fibres in Construction - innovative applications and processes - seminar at Hughes Hall College, Cambridge on 17 November 2009.
Algal Products and Processes event (jointly hosted with Biofuels East) on 15 October 2009
Fibre Crops Open Day held on 4 September 2009
Bioplastics and Biopolymers event held on 16 July 2009
Designing Green Interiors 8 December 2011, BRE Watford
An industry focused networking event aimed at interior designers, architects and manufacturers of interior materials who are interested in the use of innovative bio-based and sustainable materials. Presentations and discussions looked at how the interior design market addresses 'green' issues and promoted interest in the use of innovative, bio-based sustainable materials facturers.
Welcome and introductions - Dr Liliya Serazetdinova
‘Strategies and tools for sustainable interior design’ - Neil Paterson , BRE
‘Rematerialise Sustainable Materials Library’ - Jakki Dehn, Kingston University Materials Library
'Designing for Green Interiors' - Donna Staples, Pellings LLP
Delegates also had an opportunity to visit the Renewable House and other buildings on the BRE Innovation Park.
Feedstocks for bioenergy: Straw for energy 12 December 2011, Honingham Thorpe, Norwich
This second seminar in a series on feedstocks for bioenergy centred on straw for energy. Presentations examined the value of straw for bioenergy production and increasing competition for agricultural residues could have an impact on soil quality and structure, requiring complex decisions as to the best use for biomass resources.
'Anglia Farmers & Straw for Biomass' -Nigel Last, Anglia Farmers
‘Straw for Biomass – implications for soil and nutrient management’ -Edward Downing, Frontier Agriculture Ltd
‘Profiting from organic matter’ John Gaunt, KeySoil Ltd
‘InCrops Enterprise Hub – An overview of relevant activities’ - Bianca Forte, InCrops Enterprise Hub
Low Carbon Construction sessions at Norfolk Constructing the Future Conference 1st December, Norwich
Introduction to UEA Low Carbon Construction Projects - Ben Binns, InCrops Enterprise Hub
The Green Deal Appraised – An Opportunity? - Martin Ingham, Associate Consultant, LCIC
Retrofitting Broadland Housing Association's stock – lessons learned - David Daniels, Associate Consultant, LCIC
Feedstocks for Bioenergy: A look at perennial energy crops 11 November 2011 Harpenden
Welcome and Introduction - Bianca Forte, InCrops Enterprise Hub and Richard Nugent, Rothamsted Research
Cooperative supply chains for biomass - Nigel Last, Anglia Farmers
Perennial energy crops - Dr Ian Shield, Dr Svetlana Trybush and Nicola Yates, Rothamsted Research
A Fresh Approach to Packaging and Food Waste 10 October 2011 Chatteris
Industry networking event for businesses involved in the fresh produce supply chain that are interested in waste reduction and packaging innovations.
Presentations:
Introduction - Dr Liliya Serazetdinova, InCrops Enterprise Hub
Compostable Packaging – an end to food waste?- Tina Benfield, MCIWM Chartered Waste Manager
Why bother with Compostable Packaging?- Bruce Drew and David Wilkinson, Fresh Technologies UK Ltd
Innovative Ways of Making Packaging More Effective Attractive and Interactive using Printable Electronics- Dr Brian Weeks, Interactive Product Solutions
Low Carbon Construction: PassivHaus and Performance 14 September 2011 Norwich
In the first of a regular series of events on low carbon construction promoted by UEA’s Low Carbon Innovation Centre and InCrops Enterprise Hub this event focused on PassivHaus developments in the region.
Presentations:
BREEAM, the Code and PassivHaus - Jennifer Hardi, Low Carbon Futures and Refurbishment at Building Research Establishment (BRE)
UEA Exemplar Building: PassivHaus, BREEAM and bio-based materials - Ben Binns, InCrops Enterprise Hub
Wimbish PassivHaus Project: the Vision - John Lefever, Regional Head of Development, Hastoe Housing .
Low Carbon Construction and Performance: the Wimbish PassivHaus project - Martin Ingham, Associate Consultant, Low Carbon Innovation Centre
Rush for Resources: Ethics of building a bio-based economy 1 September 2011, Cambridge
To achieve sustainable economic growth, global society needs to wean itself off fossil resources. This in turn puts increased pressure on available biomass, land and water. In the rush for resources, ethical considerations are easily overlooked or given a low priority.
In April 2011 the Nuffield Council on Bioethics published its report on the ethical issues surrounding biofuels (Biofuels: ethical issues).The report, which includes recommendations for policy and practice, highlights that its conclusions are also applicable to other sectors which build on biomass as a key resource.
The Rush for Resources joint event from the InCrops Enterprise Hub and the Nuffield Council on Bioethics was introduced by Dr Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley who gave an overview of both the InCrops Enterprise Hub and the background to the Nuffield Report - click here for Dr Schlarb-Ridley's presentation.
The event gave delegates the opportunity to hear from Prof Christine Raines of the Council’s Working Party on biofuels, presenting the findings of the report. Click here to view Prof Raines presentation.
23 March 2011, Thetford, Norfolk
InCrops hosted this event for regional businesses interested in sustainable alternatives to petrochemical plastics and those involved in the supply chain, conversion and recycling of plastics.
The global bioplastics market is expanding rapidly, with new bio-derived plastics, hybrid bio-petrochemical blends and master-batches. The total global biopolymers market by volumes is set to grow at a CAGR of 27.3% from 2009 to 2015, reaching 2,680,590 tons. Development of biopolymers with characteristics comparable to petrochemical polymers is opening up new markets for these renewable, biologically-sourced compounds. This workshop aimed to give attendees an overview of the types of bioplastics on the market, the advantages and pitfalls in their use in some areas, and issues around recycling these plastics.
Presentations:
Matthew White, British Sugar – the challenges and opportunities for sugar-derived polymers. Mathtew’s presentation included an overview of British Sugar’s business and featured Wissington sugar refinery plant as an example of British Sugar’s mission to maximise the value of products from sugar-based processing. Click here to view presentation ‘Challenges and opportunities in polymers & chemicals derived from sugar‘
Christoph Lohr, FKuR Kunststoff GmbH - the technical issues associated with use of bioplastics. Christoph gave an overview of the FKuR company and their brand names. He reinforced the message that in order to decide which bioplastics best meet a product’s requirements, it is important to consider three key issues – price, performance, and processing. Click here to view presentation ‘Technical aspects of biopolymer applications in moulding ‘
Marcel Arsand, Recoup – understanding the terminology, application options and recyclability. In his presentation Marcel explained that among end-users and recyclers there is a lot of confusion in the terminology and claims for bioplastic and regarding how to dispose of it. ‘Bioplastics - understanding the terminology, application & recyclability‘
Discussion following presentations
• Attendees and speakers debated the added value of bioplastics. One of the benefits of bioplastics is decreased VOCs in processing, lower processing temperature, and the variety of available end of life options. Biopolymers have currently the best added value in agricultural sector. Cost, performance and processing are three critical points for the industry.
• Attendees discussed that the lack of regulation for bio-based products risks significant confusion in the market place. Better information and a better labelling system is needed in order to engage the general public and businesses.
• More engagement is required between material processors, product manufacturers and local authorities. There is a need for funding to develop recycling infrastructure.
• Across the whole market the demand from end customers for bioplastics is currently not sufficient. The offering of various bioplastics blends is small and need further tailoring.
• Large manufacturers and brand owners view that the main challenge with Bioplastics is the absence of required capacity for supply.
The event concluded with a networking session, at which several companies discussed potential joint projects.
For a full summary of the discussion and event click here.
Presentations from the event
Dr Liliya Serazetdinova, InCrops - Introduction
Matthew White, British Sugar - ‘Challenges and opportunities in polymers & chemicals derived from sugar‘
Christoph Lohr, FKuR Kunststoff GmbH - ‘Technical aspects of biopolymer applications in moulding ‘
Marcel Arsand, RECOUP - ‘Bioplastics - understanding the terminology, application & recyclability‘