It's all about the Bio Baby!

Nearly a century ago, Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) was established, quickly becoming a cornerstone of British manufacturing and a titan of its era. For decades, it dominated the plastics industry and served as a bellwether for the UK stock market. Notably, forty years ago, ICI became the first UK company to surpass £1 billion in pre-tax profits.

ICI’s contributions extended far beyond financial success. It revolutionised industries, creating ground-breaking chemical products from fertilisers to paints, and made pioneering advances in pharmaceuticals, including the first successful beta blocker and the life-saving cancer drug tamoxifen. Its innovations also reached everyday life with products like Crimplene, the iconic thick polyester fabric of the 1950s and 60s. While it might conjure images of Twiggy or Austin Powers, Crimplene now symbolises a bygone era when synthetic, petroleum-based materials were seen as modern marvels rather than environmental threats.

Today, Crimplene reminds us how far we’ve come in understanding the impact of human activity on the planet. Made from polyester yarn, a petroleum derivative, its production was energy-intensive, water-hungry, and polluting—a stark contrast to modern efforts to prioritise sustainability. It’s the kind of material that wouldn’t be conceived or embraced today, as society increasingly values environmental responsibility.

The environmental toll of burning fossil fuels, including the release of carbon dioxide, is now widely recognised. These emissions trap heat, driving climate change. The urgency to move away from oil and gas is undeniable. One of the answers lies in biogenic carbon—carbon stored in plants, trees, animals, and soil—which plays a pivotal role in the natural carbon cycle, and the bioeconomy.

Plants and trees excel at capturing atmospheric carbon, and their versatility allows them to replace fossil-based materials in everything from plastics to personal care products. Unlike using fossil resources, which release ancient, locked-away carbon, utilising biomass only returns the carbon absorbed during the plant's lifecycle, maintaining balance in the atmosphere.

Thankfully, biogenic carbon is beginning to command attention among policymakers and businesses. The environmental damage caused by fossil-based plastics and chemicals is well-documented. From pollution that poisons ecosystems to microplastics entering our food chain and accumulating in our bodies, the consequences are far-reaching and alarming. Plastic waste, often single-use, can persist in the environment for centuries. Of the plastic ever produced, only 9% has been recycled, while 19% has been incinerated. This stark reality underscores the need for certified biodegradable plastics and renewable, plant-based alternatives.

In the UK, the narrative around sustainability is evolving. Energy has long dominated the conversation, but chemicals and materials are now gaining their rightful place. With 15% of oil and 5% of natural gas used for non-energy purposes, the potential impact of bio-based solutions is significant. The UK chemicals industry aims to reinvent itself, doubling in size by 2050 while sourcing 30% of its carbon feedstock from biomass. Achieving this could unlock over £204 billion in annual revenue and propel the nation toward its Net Zero goals.

Engineering biology is also key to the bio-based sectors success. However, to date, much of the focus on engineering biology has been in healthcare, but the survival of the planet is no less a life-and-death issue. Without a liveable environment, even the most advanced medical breakthroughs will be in vain. Yet, the bio-based sector often struggles to capture attention and funding. While last month’s budget rightly allocated £520 million to the life sciences, the bio-based sector urgently needs its own dedicated support.

As a society, we must recognise the importance of seemingly mundane choices—switching from fossil-based bin liners to bio-based alternatives or replacing chemical-heavy shower gels with greener bio-based options. These changes may not evoke the same emotional response as stories of medical breakthroughs, but they are equally vital for our collective future.

Austin Powers might have made Crimplene groovy in its time, but even he would struggle to revive it today. Times have changed, and for the better. And today he would be saying, “Bio, baby!”