Sustainable chemical manufacturing centre launched

The $24.9 million Victorian Centre for Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing (VCSCM) was launched last week by the Victorian Minister for Manufacturing, David Hodgett.

Led by Monash University in partnership with CSIRO, the Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA) and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the facility aims for more sustainable and competitive manufacturing processes to be adopted across the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries.

The centre supports closer ties between manufacturers and researchers through access to practical scientific outcomes, an integrated education program, and solutions to improve the sustainability of their business. Capturing the benefits of green chemistry for the production of existing and new products, the aim is to assist Australian manufacturing industries to evaluate and deploy more sustainable manufacturing processes.

VCSCM Director Professor Milton Hearn, of Monash University, said the centre is already cooperating with Australian industry to develop new manufacturing processes, “working with Victoria-based and national manufacturing companies to develop novel manufacturing processes and products that employ low-cost, very efficient, small-footprint facilities that enable them to more effectively compete on the world stage.”

“As a consortium, we are already engaged with a range of Australian companies to assist them in the development of new approaches to chemical and food ingredient manufacture based on green chemical principles, including high-value nutraceutical products derived from plant sources and new technologies that enable more sustainable production of pharmaceuticals,” he said.

Other projects underway include the development of new manufacturing processes for a sunscreen based on a marine natural product from the Great Barrier Reef and the conversion of renewable feedstocks into platform fine chemicals and biofuels.

“These partnerships between industry, research institutions and peak organisations, such as PACIA and EPA, will ultimately foster the adoption of more sustainable manufacturing solutions to improve products and processes, allowing companies to better compete within the challenging national and international economic environment,” Professor Hearn said.

The centre leverages the university’s already strong capabilities and international partnerships in green and sustainable chemistry. It was established through funding provided by its partner institutions and organisations, plus $5.85 million from the Victorian Government.