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CIRCULAR PLASTICS
core RESEARCH programme: CIRCULAR PLASTICS
We need to move away from our reliance on fossil-based plastics and towards a circular economy. Our vision of sustainable plastics involves creating materials derived from renewable feedstocks and with multiple closed-loop life cycles such as mechanical and chemical recycling or biodegradation.
As part of this research programme, we work with the plastic industry to identify current capability gaps in the properties and environmental impacts of these materials – specifically for biobased, recyclable and degradable materials. We seek to understand how to fill these gaps by, for example, exploring and exploiting structure-property relationships and new sustainable composite materials.
PROGRAMME LEADS & Research Team

Antoine's research focusses on the discovery of novel chemical transformations and use in catalysis of renewable resources, in particular for the synthesis of sustainable polymers.
Programme Lead (Bath)

Clive's research investigates the behaviour of materials and structures when subjected to impact loading. Most materials behave very differently when deformed at high speeds. His work aims to understand the microscopic causes of rate dependence, with a view to better design and use of materials.
Programme Lead (Oxford)

Ryan is an iCAST core postdoctoral researcher based in Oxford. His expertise lies in oxygenated polymer synthesis, enantioselective catalysis and small molecule activation.
Core Researcher (Oxford)

Daria has experience in supramolecular chemistry, organic synthesis, and enantioselective organocatalysis. As one of iCAST’s core postdoctoral researchers based in Oxford, she will work on investigating new catalytic systems for the efficient and sustainable synthesis of organic compounds.
Core Researcher (Oxford)

Anna has experience in reversible deactivation radical polymerization techniques, conjugated polymers and polymer brushes grafted from the surface. As a Core Researcher, she will be focused on developing sustainable resins.
Core Researcher (Bath)

Aaron's expertise is in materials characterisation, with a particular focus on polymers and biological tissues such as skin or brain tissue. He has extensive experience of developing novel test apparatus and analysis methods, especially on image based metrology and the Virtual Fields Method (VFM).
Aaron
Graham
Core Researcher (Oxford)
key publications
- Bio‐derived and degradable block polyester pressure‐sensitive adhesives. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2020, 59, 23450–2345 (Williams)
- Understanding metal synergy in heterodinuclear catalysts for the copolymerization of CO2 and epoxides. Nat. Chem., 2020, 12, 372–380 (Williams)
- Xylose-based polyethers and polyesters via ADMET polymerization toward polyethylene-like materials. ACS Appl. Polym. Mater., 2021, 3, 5870–5881 (Buchard)
- Control of crystallinity and stereocomplexation of synthetic carbohydrate polymers from D‐ and L‐Xylose. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2021, 60, 4524–4528 (Buchard)
- Online tracing of molecular weight evolution during radical polymerization via high-resolution FlowNMR spectroscopy. Polym. Chem., 2020, 11, 3546–3550 (Davidson, Hintermair)
- Poly(lactic acid) Degradation into Methyl Lactate Catalyzed by a Well-Defined Zn(II) Complex. ACS Catal., 2019, 9, 409–416 (Jones)
news and events
News
November 13, 2023
iCAST invests over £1.3M in material characterisation equipment to meet industry needs in sustainable innovation
iCAST invests over £1.3M in material characterisation equipment to meet industry needs in sustainable innovation iCAST equipment materials The new equipment has expanded the capabilities of the labs in Bath and Oxford and led to 37 projects with industry. Since its launch in 2021, the iCAST labs at the Universities of Bath and Oxford have […]
13/11/23
News
November 13, 2023
Scott Bader and the Institute for Sustainability – a long-standing compromise with sustainable innovation
Scott Bader and the Institute for Sustainability – a long-standing compromise with sustainable innovation iCAST sustainable materials composites bio-based materials Scott Bader and the University of Bath’s Institute for Sustainability, which hosts iCAST, started working together in 2017. So far, this partnership has led to a funded PhD and two joint industry projects with iCAST, […]
13/11/23
News
November 9, 2023
From trash to treasure – finding new value in agricultural waste with Tensei
From trash to treasure – finding new value in agricultural waste with Tensei iCAST Joint Industry Project bio-based feedstocks bio-based materials Tensei and iCAST worked together on two different projects that looked into finding new value in waste coming from the paper and fruit industries. Can we move away from fossil fuels to produce strong, durable […]
09/11/23
Events Royal Society of Chemistry
December 1, 2023
RSC: Chemical feedstocks for sustainable industry
An industry-academia collaboration focusing on: sustainable chemicals from biomass residues, end-of-life plastic recycling, and oleochemicals
27/09/23
9am-5.15pm
News
August 1, 2023
Seaweed-based plastic film that doesn’t disrupt the production lines – our work with FlexSea
Seaweed-based plastic film that doesn’t disrupt the production lines – our work with FlexSea iCAST Joint Industry Project circular plastics bio-based materials FlexSea and iCAST worked together over six months to understand FlexSea’s seaweed-based film formulations and how to control the material’s mechanical and barrier properties. The need to move away from fossil-fuel based plastics […]
01/08/23
News
July 25, 2023
Talking sustainable packaging – a summary of our second Creative Hub workshop
Talking sustainable packaging – a summary of our second Creative Hub workshop iCAST Creative Hub packaging cpi The ‘Sustainable Packaging’ workshop was organised by iCAST in collaboration with the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and took place at Workshed, Swindon, in April 2023. A total of 22 people from industry, academia, and the high-value manufacturing […]
25/07/23
News
June 28, 2023
iCAST runner-up in global entrepreneurship awards
iCAST runner-up in global entrepreneurship awards iCAST AWARDS Entrepreneurship innovation iCAST is selected as runner-up in the 2023 Triple E Awards, an international award for entrepreneurship in higher education. Following its selection as finalist for the 2023 Triple E Awards in the global category of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team of the Year, iCAST was named runner-up […]
22/05/23
News
May 3, 2023
Making laboratory single-use plastics more circular – our work with LabCycle
Making laboratory single-use plastics more circular– our work with LabCycle iCAST Joint Industry Project circular plastics sustainable healthcare LabCycle partnered up with iCAST to investigate how to manufacture lab consumables with recycled plastics from decontaminated laboratory waste, helping research labs in the transition to Net Zero. The research and healthcare sectors generate over 5.5 million […]
03/05/23
Events Creative Hub
April 17, 2023
Creative Hub Workshop: Sustainable Packaging
Submit your expression of interest to attend our second Creative Hub Workshop.
29/03/23
10am-4pm
Events University of Bath
March 23, 2023
Ignite+ KTP Engagement Event
Don't miss out on this chance to drive your business to the next level with a KTP with the University of Bath.
28/03/23
9.30am-1pm
membership
Tap into the expertise, facilities and networks of a partnership created to help you bring innovation in sustainable technologies to market.