Resource efficiency and energy efficiency (REEE) in the Portuguese ceramic industry: Towards net zero carbon production

The Portuguese ceramic industry constitutes 0.5% of Gross Domestic Product in Portugal, far higher than most other European nations, and thus it is essential this sector is decarbonised, cost-effectively to preserve jobs and national revenue.By: IM Reaney, B Walsh, PM Vilarinho, Open Ceramics, Vol 15, 2023 Read more

→ Read more

International Women in Engineering Day 2023

→ Read more

Resource efficiency and energy efficiency (REEE) in the Portuguese ceramic industry: Towards net zero carbon production

The Portuguese ceramic industry constitutes 0.5% of Gross Domestic Product in Portugal, far higher than most other European nations, and thus it is essential this sector is decarbonised, cost-effectively to preserve jobs and national revenue. Moreover, the small size of the country and the co-location of ceramic factories dominantly in northern Portugal lowers the logistical barriers to […]

→ Read more

‘Sustainable Ceramic Manufacturing’ symposium on 19th June 2023

It great to welcome many practioners from the ceramics industry and the ceramics research community at the recent ‘Sustainable Ceramic Manufacturing’ symposium on 19th June 2023 at the Materials Science and Smart Materials (MSSM) Conference in Emilo Reggia, Italy. TFIN+ Director Prof. Reaney presents an award to Jason Bridges of Johnson Tiles UK, for giving a keynote […]

→ Read more

IOM3 Article: Transforming Foundation Industries

The built environment is our adaptation of the natural environment. It is complex with a multitude of materials and systems required to create sustainable cities and towns. Construction techniques and the design of buildings has improved dramatically in the last few decades, with greater emphasis placed on optimising materials use, reducing heat loss and distributing/generating […]

→ Read more

Overcoming silos in the ceramics industry

Professor Ian M Reaney FIMMM, Director of the Transforming Foundation Industries Network+, calls for greater synergy with universities to decarbonise the UK ceramics industry. Full article available on the IOM3 website

→ Read more

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: FUTURE-PROOFING YOUR WORKFORCE

Recent research has shown that the Foundation Industries face particular challenges around attracting new talent and retaining them – specifically, younger people and women. Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace not only develops the talent pipeline but helps businesses and teams to ‘make better decisions, come up with more competitive products, and […]

→ Read more

Completed: Can workforce diversity stimulate transformation towards a more sustainable future? 

In collaboration with Ferrovial Construction UK & Ireland The Foundation Industries face stark challenges that are worsened by a persistent lack of workforce diversity. In 2020, women represented 16% and BAME workers only 7.1% of all workers. Coinciding with a looming skills shortage due to an ageing workforce, difficulties in recruiting and retaining gender and […]

→ Read more

Completed: Co-designing a goal interdependency method for deciding corporate sustainability strategy

In collaboration with The Dean Group and Morgan Advanced Materials There is no one-size-fits-all approach to Corporate Environmental Sustainability (CES) because organisations have different organisational goals (aims, values, projects, strategies, initiatives & activities) and different interdependencies across these goals. Nevertheless, there is currently no tool or process companies can follow to decide upon their unique […]

→ Read more

Completed: Circular business model innovation in the UK cement, glass, and ceramics industries

Through collaborative research and knowledge exchange workshops involving companies and industry associations, the project served to develop a business case for the Foundation Industries to adopt strategies around Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, circularity, and business model innovation to strengthen companies’ competitiveness and reduce the environmental impact they have. Participants reported their engagement with the project […]

→ Read more