SME manufacturers have been among the first to sign up to Eco-I North West, a first-of-its-kind research and development programme for low carbon innovation.

Eco-I North West is a 14m initiative offering businesses the opportunity to collaborate with and access the extensive knowledge base, cutting-edge research facilities, and skills of six of the regions leading universities Lancaster, Central Lancashire, Cumbria, Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores and Manchester Metropolitan.

The programme, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, will work with more than 300 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region over the next two years, supporting the development of 135 new innovative solutions which will save 3,850 tonnes of CO2.

This is support for businesses to build back better, enabling R&D, and building networks to drive innovation, which is good for business and better for the environment.

Among the 80+ businesses signed up to Eco-I NW is Fibrestar Drums, based in Stockport, a manufacturer of fibre drums innovating with new materials and solutions which will have a lasting impact on the environment.

Colin Pardoe, Managing Director, said: For the last two years we have been innovating to produce Europes first conical and nestable 100% fibre (kraft) container primarily for the agricultural sector which is edible by livestock with no waste, as well as having 66% less CO2 than a plastic pail and helping soil enrichment which also acts as a carbon sink.

Working with Lancaster University through the Eco-I NW programme we are driving that innovation forward to explore how we can apply our product to other materials for applications in other sectors. It is an exciting opportunity to access world-class academic expertise and facilities for innovation and develop solutions which will have a lasting impact on the environment while supporting the growth of the business.

Enviroo, based in Manchester, specialises in turning plastic bottles into the raw material for new food-grade packaging, is also developing low carbon innovation.

Ahmed Detta, CEO & founder, said: Our partnership with Lancaster University through the Eco-I NW programme is the perfect fit for our company. It will give us access to the research body of a prestigious university, and essentially create an R&D arm for our young enterprise, to help us achieve our long-term business goals.

Others manufacturers signed up to Eco-I NW are:

Biotech Services, based in Sandbach, a manufacturer exploring the use of extracted organic production waste to create new products such as fabrics, regenerative medicine, biodegradable packaging and batteries.

Kerax, based in Chorley, a wax manufacturer innovating with hydrogenated vegetable waxes and solutions to reduce the energy and CO2 emissions involved in transporting wax products.

CO2 Extraction, based in Morecambe, specialists in the extraction of high-value bioactive compounds and oils from botanicals;

Silverwoods Waste Management, based in Altham, Lancashire, an industrial waste recycling specialist, is researching the sequestration and capture of carbon within agricultural soils.

Some of these inspirational stories will be showcased at a free-to-access virtual summit, Disruption, Innovation, Transformation. Climate Change: Its Now or Never, today, Wednesday 20 October.

ECO-I NW speakers Top LtoR Dr Ariel Edesess, Duncan Pollard, Dr Rhiannon Hunt- Bottom LtoR Dr Yagya Regmi, Helen Wilkinson, Professor Karl Williams. Image courtesy of Eco-I North West

The two-hour summit, running from 10am-12pm, will include keynote speaker Duncan Pollard, former VP for Sustainability at Nestle and Director of Conservation Practice & Policy at WWF, who will share his expertise on how to integrate, engage, and operationalise sustainable practice in business.

Delegates will then be invited to participate in three themed breakout sessions about nature-based solutions, the built environment, and the circular economy.

Businesses will also learn about the funding opportunities and innovation support to enable them to pilot, prototype and demonstrate new technologies, as well as opportunities for leadership development, workshops, and networking.

Speaking ahead of the event, Duncan Pollard said: The business community has the power to influence the effects of climate change, through its operations, supply chains, and offering more sustainable choices to customers. But for positive change we must disrupt and challenge the business as usual mind set.

Sustainability must be at the heart of the post-Covid recovery, not just an add-on. Any business that doesnt heed the sustainability concerns of staff, customers and investors risks being left behind.

SMEs are the lifeblood of our economy and offer something very special to help deliver solutions to tackle the massive challenge of climate change. Without the scale or complexity of large corporations they can move quickly to try new things and are efficient in the way in which they use resources.

With more than 560,000 SMEs operating in the North West, now is the time for this crucial collective to rise up and embrace the opportunity.

The event will be chaired by Prof Jess Davies, Director of the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation at Lancaster University said: This virtual summit will be the first time all the key partners involved in Eco-I NW have been able to come together to ask the difficult questions about how we can approach key global challenges such as water supply and quality, waste, energy, resource efficiency, natural capital, air quality, and food security.

Eco-I NW is the first project of its kind to open up such a huge academic regional resource to businesses and offers the opportunity for the North West to take the lead and benefit from the transition to a low carbon economy.

I would encourage leaders of small and medium sized enterprises in the North West to sign up to the event and come along to understand how Eco-I NW could help them, and the planet.

Sustainability is a major theme of this years Digital Manufacturing Week, including Smart Factory Expo and Manufacturing Leaders Summit.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

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Manufacturers among first to sign up to low carbon innovation with Eco-I North West - Manufacturer.com