SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Research
In May 2023, UEL’s Sustainability Research Insitute (SRI) and MArch Architecture programme, in partnership with Tate & Lyle Sugars and Chemical Systems Technologies (India) Pvt. Ltd., unveiled Sugarcrete® - a low-carbon building material created from the waste byproducts of sugar production. Sugarcane is the world’s largest crop by volume, with annual production yielding six hundred million tonnes of sugarcane fibre byproduct. UEL researchers found that, when combined with custom sand-mineral binders, this sugarcane bio-waste can be used and re-used in new or existing structures, serving as a replacement for both brick and concrete. Sugarcrete® research will benefit local manufacturers in the Global South, where construction materials are often imported, environmentally inefficient, high cost and high carbon.
Teaching
UEL’s MSc in Civil Engineering with Sustainability offers advanced training for engineers and professionals dedicated to creating efficient built environments and supporting the UK’s goal of achieving an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. This course applies civil engineering concepts and adaptive strategies to build a comprehensive understanding of sustainability, providing structural design engineers with a solid knowledge of materials and methods for creating low whole-life carbon structures.
Modules such as ‘Environmental Sustainable Engineering and Logistics’ and ‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ offer holistic approaches to sustainable construction, encouraging students to consider both the environmental challenges and opportunities within the production industry. Students are also equipped with the knowledge to assess the environmental impact of construction and to minimise potential negative effects.
Operations
In 2023, UEL and technological innovator Siemens launched the Living Lab project to create a smart, sustainable environment within the University, serving as a testing ground for green innovation. The Living Lab provides UEL students, staff, and researchers with access to campus energy data, enabling them to analyse UEL’s energy usage and simulate potential changes. The project is part of the University’s core commitment to sustainability, outlined in its Vision 2028 strategy, which includes a commitment to achieve carbon net zero by 2030.
Outreach
In November 2023, a UEL partnership with biotech start-up Biozeroc and Maplex Technology was awarded a prestigious Innovate UK grant of £815,000 for a project aimed at replacing carbon-intensive cement with a bacteria-based material.
UEL’s Department of Engineering and Built Environment conducts leading research into bacteria-based, self-healing concrete and plays a major role in driving positive change within the industry. The partnership represents a significant step toward the UK’s net-zero carbon goals and the decarbonisation of concrete, which accounts for 8 per cent of all global emissions.