Mission-oriented innovation for sustainable polymers in liquid formulation

Area of Science:

• Green chemistry
• Materials science
• Sustainable chemical engineering

Background:

• Growing industry awareness of environmental stewardship and resource management.
• Need for a new classification of polymers in liquid formulation (PLFs) to address sustainability challenges.
• Limited recognition of PLFs outside the chemistry community hindered mainstream research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To drive technical research and classify a novel class of polymers in liquid formulation (PLFs).
• To establish demand-pull requirements for sustainable PLFs across the value chain.
• To accelerate innovation in PLF sustainability through a structured approach.

Main Methods:

• Formation of an industry task force by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
• Application of a 'mission-oriented' innovation framework for co-designing research projects.
• Strategic design method to build consensus and innovation ecosystems for PLF sustainability.

Main Results:

• Identification of key research themes and priorities for sustainable PLFs.
• Development of a realistic roadmap for transitioning towards sustainable PLF practices.
• Facilitation of cross-value chain consensus on action for PLF sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Mission-oriented innovation is effective for advancing novel material classes like PLFs.
• Cross-sector collaboration and strategic roadmapping are crucial for sustainable chemical industry transitions.
• The developed framework supports building innovation ecosystems for common-good scenarios in green chemistry.