Prosperity Partnership: developing next-generation sustainable materials for consumer products

Professor Matthew Rosseinsky FRS from the University of Liverpool's Department of Chemistry said: 'We are excited to work with Unilever and the University of Oxford on this ambitious research programme that will open new paths to the sustainable catalysts and processes needed to access the renewable and bio-degradable materials for the consumer products of the future. This project reflects our shared commitment to achieve Net-Zero through co-creation of new chemical science.'

Richard Slater, Chief R&D Officer at Unilever, said: 'To achieve the UK's Net Zero goal by 2050 we need a transformation of the global chemical supply chain. This partnership is an important milestone towards this, driving forward important research on new renewable and biodegradable materials for everyday products, such as laundry detergents. We're delighted to bring together our world-leading scientists alongside those from the University of Liverpool, the University of Oxford, and our other partners, to tackle this issue.'

This Prosperity Partnershsip will also help achieve N8 Net Zero North (NZN), an initiative which connects the Northern Powerhouse's science and research capabilities, skills providers and businesses to forge a green recovery from Covid-19 while simultaneously putting the UK at the forefront at the global drive for net zero carbon.

Professor Anthony Hollander, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Impact at the University of Liverpool, said: 'This excellent collaboration with Unilever takes our partnership to a new level by accelerating the development of new materials to achieve clean growth. These collaborative university industry partnerships maximise the contribution that our scientists make to develop the new technologies, processes and skills that are needed to achieve the UK's and the North of England's transition to a net zero economy.'

The £8.8million EPSRC Prosperity Partnership is led by Unilever in collaboration with the University of Liverpool and the University of Oxford. It is one of nine Prosperity supported by an overall investment of £75million from business, academia and UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).