Aston University Leads £6 Million Program to Replace Fossil Carbon in Industry
Aston University has secured £6 million in funding to lead a major research programme aimed at reducing industrial emissions by replacing fossil-derived carbon in key sectors such as plastics, chemicals and construction. The four-year initiative, known as CIRCARB, is backed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and brings together a consortium of academic and industry partners, including Loughborough University and University of Edinburgh.
The programme reflects a growing recognition that decarbonisation cannot rely solely on cleaner energy. While much of the net zero transition has focused on electrification and renewable power, many industries depend on fossil carbon not just as a fuel, but as a core ingredient embedded in materials. Addressing these “embedded emissions” is widely seen as one of the more complex challenges in achieving climate targets.
CIRCARB—short for Circular and Biogenic Carbon Pathways for a Sustainable Future—will explore ways to replace fossil-based inputs with alternative carbon sources, including waste materials, plant-based feedstocks, and captured carbon dioxide. The goal is to develop scalable and economically viable solutions that maintain performance while reducing overall emissions.
The research will concentrate on three high-impact sectors that are both economically significant and difficult to decarbonise. In the chemicals industry, which still relies heavily on fossil feedstocks, researchers will work on catalytic processes to convert biomass and captured CO₂ into products such as methanol, while improving carbon efficiency and reducing reliance on hydrogen. In construction, the programme will investigate the production of carbon-negative aggregates derived from treated agricultural waste, potentially enabling building materials that store rather than emit carbon. In plastics, the focus will be on using microbial processes to transform waste streams—such as food residues and used cooking oil—into biodegradable alternatives suitable for packaging.
Together, these sectors contribute tens of billions of pounds to the UK economy and support millions of jobs, but also account for a substantial share of industrial emissions. By targeting the carbon embedded within materials themselves, the programme aims to complement broader decarbonisation efforts and accelerate progress towards a circular industrial system.
Led by Dr Muhammad Imran at Aston University, the initiative brings together academic expertise and industry collaboration to tackle the issue at scale. The programme is set to begin in September 2026 and is intended to support the UK’s transition towards a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy.
