University partner wins prestigious award for sustainable materials innovation for net-zero
Ecobelt Ltd, a University partner, has won an award from the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining in recognition of its use of sustainable materials innovation to reach net-zero.
Formed to challenge and disrupt the global conveyor belt market, Ecobelt Ltd is an environmentally ambitious company that champions environmental sustainability and fosters a circular life-cycle approach for belting use.
In the UK alone, 4,000 tonnes of conveyor belts are incinerated or sent to landfill every week.
The 青瓜视频楽ustainable Materials Innovation for Net-zero青瓜视频� award recognises Ecobelt青瓜视频檚 patented innovative belt splice technology to address the main cause of belt failure. The technology extends belt lifespan from months to years, therefore improving the upstream sustainability by reducing the demand for new belts.
Through partnership and collaboration with The University of Manchester青瓜视频攕upported by its UKRI Impact Acceleration Account and the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub at the Henry Royce Institute青瓜视频擡cobelt tested the performance of their technology to develop an approach to repair damaged conveyor belts, employing a whole life-cycle environmental impact approach.
The judges from the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining commended Ecobelt青瓜视频檚 technology, citing the robust research base and collaboration with partners as key indicators to Ecobelt青瓜视频檚 commitment to environmental sustainability.
This project underlines the significant impact that can arise from collaboration with innovative regional small businesses, and the importance of ensuring that our research and expertise continues to benefit the economy and the environment.
Conveyor belts service virtually all consumer products, production and manufacturing facilities globally, driving a market valued at $6 billion (USD) annually, fuelled by e-commerce and industry 4.0.
Despite this, the industry has been remarkably stagnant in relation to innovation, sustainability and the manufacturing process of materials used in conveyor belts. As conveyor belts are fossil fuel based, manufacturing consumes huge natural resources whilst producing significant Greenhouse Gases 青瓜视频� an issue that Ecobelt seeks to change.
Whilst Ecobelt青瓜视频檚 next steps for commercial scale up are still unfolding, the technology青瓜视频檚 potential for lasting impact in the industrial settings are clear.
Professor Michael Shaver, Director of the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub said: 青瓜视频淥ur world is driven 青瓜视频� both literally and figuratively 青瓜视频� by conveyor belts. Yet we don青瓜视频檛 think of them as essential in championing Manchester as a sustainable city.
青瓜视频淥ur eyes have been opened by this hidden gem of a local business: Ecobelt have tackled an invisible material flow that is essential to keeping our manufacturing and delivery systems moving by improving material repair, reuse and circularity. It has been a privilege to work on assessing the AnnStuMax technology and quantifying its impressive environmental credentials.青瓜视频�