UWB Crest

Welsh Institute for Natural Resources

The Welsh Institute for Natural Resources

 

BioComposites CentreBio-Composites Centre - Alternative Materials and 'green chemistry'.

 

BC has invested £500,000 through Welsh Assembly funding to set up a new pilot scale facility in Mona, Anglesey. The Tech Transfer Centre will help companies develop new products to meet some of the challenges of the construction industry.

The centre is running 5 major TSB projects 3 funded through EPSRC

  • Natural Anti-bacterial additives

  • Platform Chemicals

  • Natural Insulation Materials

  • Pulp moulded packaging

  • Light weight packaging

Clients include Sainsbury, M&S, Findus, MI Swaco, Wates Construction, Dow, CoOp, BASF, Imperial, Reading and Brunel Universities.

 

CAZS NR LogoCentre for Advanced Research in Agricultural Development

 

Crop Improvement in marginal areas using participatory methods (PCI), in particular client-oriented plant breeding (COB) and low-cost agronomic technologies such as seed priming and transplanting.

  • Combining COB with molecular marker techniques has led to the release of  new upland rice varieties.

  • 95% of farmers who received seed in 2001 or 2002 were still growing it in 2007. 

  • 83% reported increases in food availability.

 

The Sustainability Hub

 

SBBS was originally founded in 2006 supported by funds from the European Union and Welsh Assembly Government. The primary objective was to help businesses in Wales learn more about what sustainability means for them. SBBS has subsequently advised and informed over 700 companies on sustainable development issues   and conducted over 250 sustainability health-checks with businesses from a wide range of sectors.

  • The sustainability health-check is now commercialised as A-Dor Worldwide

  • A lightweight, online health-check helps convergence projects deliver on sustainable development targets for participating businesses

  • Two successful Knowledge Transfer Partnerships developing sustainable practices and reporting in Wylfa, through Magnox North and with the housing association - Cymdeithas Tai Eryri

  • Undertake a range of consultancy with businesses including development of environmental manuals, sustainability reviews and awareness raising and training workshops

  • The Hub also provides, ISO 14001 auditing, a CIWM accredited trainer in waste management, a BREEAM assessor, GIS training and services and carbon footrpinting.