Key role for Cambond’s bio-resins in BONDIFI circular economy project

BONDIFI is an ambitious project to extend the use of plant-based bio resins within the construction industry. Agri-TechE member Cambond is a key player in the consortium which aims to develop the UK’s circular economy; reducing the use of oil-base products.

Cambond has invented a plant-based resin system using by-products from brewing.  The resin can be used as replacement for panels used within the automotive and construction industries that are oil-based and energy intensive to produce.

Cambond’s process uses ‘green chemistry’ and creates value for by-products that may otherwise be wasted supporting the development of a circular economy. BONDIFI, supported by a £7.3M UKRI grant, is the first such system for the construction industry.

Resins are critically important chemicals in many manufacturing industries. However, their oil-based and energy intensive manufacture requirements mean products containing resins have a large carbon footprint.

BONDIFI is a partnership between the UK brewing, foundry, panel and chemical industries, which aims to scale manufacture of sustainable resins and introduce them into the processes of making furniture, construction panels and casting metal.

Panels and metal products use more than 1.3M million tonnes of resin a year, producing oil-based carbon emissions of more than 4MT CO2e, The Cambond has the potential to replace these with plant-based resins requiring 45% less energy per tonne to manufacture

Professor Xiaobin Zhao, Cambond CEO, said: “Each partner alone cannot deliver the change needed to decarbonise and transform UK industries. BONDIFI will catalyse change and open the way to massive carbon reductions in manufacturing.”

The funding has been won in the competition for the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge.

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