A new £14 million research hub, the Carbon-Loop Sustainable Biomanufacturing Hub (C-Loop), has been launched in the UK. Led by the University of Edinburgh, the hub aims to harness the power of engineered microbes to convert industrial waste into high-value, sustainable products such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The goal is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and support a more circular, low-emission manufacturing economy. C-Loop will use advances in engineering biology to recycle carbon-rich waste and create new materials. The hub will also establish the UK’s first BioFactory, a national platform for analyzing industrial waste and scaling up bio-based production. The project involves researchers from several universities and over 40 industrial partners. The aim is to accelerate the adoption of engineering biology technologies, create new sustainable supply chains, and support the growth of a low-carbon bioeconomy. By doing so, C-Loop hopes to help the UK transition to sustainable production and reduce waste, with the ultimate goal of achieving a carbon-neutral future. The project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) with £11 million of the total funding.
Scientists have reengineered microbes to convert waste into valuable resources.
