18 November 2025 | 10:00 – 16:30 | Wilton Centre, Teesside

Purpose: Join Pioneer Group and the UK Alliance for Sustainable Chemicals and Materials (UK-ASCM), for this exciting event focused on driving innovation, collaboration, and a greener future for the chemical industry.

Join industry leaders, innovators, policymakers, and researchers at the UK Sustainable Chemicals Summit 2025, the premier event dedicated to advancing sustainability in the chemicals sector.

As the UK accelerates towards net zero and a circular economy, this summit provides a vital platform to explore cutting-edge solutions, foster strategic partnerships, and shape the future of sustainable chemical production and use.

Why Attend?

• Thought Leadership: Hear from top voices in government, academia, and industry on defossilisation, green chemistry, and policy alignment.
• Innovation Showcase: Discover breakthrough technologies and sustainable practices driving transformation across the chemical value chain.
• Collaborative Action: Engage in interactive panels, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to spark cross-sector collaboration and investment.

Agenda:

09:30 Registration and Refreshments

10:00Welcome

Toby Reid, Pioneer Group

10:05 The Current UK landscape for Sustainable Chemicals: An overview of the UK’s sustainable chemicals sector today—highlighting key initiatives, market drivers, and innovation opportunities, as well as the challenges shaping future growth.

Steve Elliott, CEO, CIA

Session One: UK Sustainable Chemicals & Materials Landscape

10:20 UK Circular Economy Strategy: An exploration of the UK’s approach to building a circular economy—examining current strategies, policy priorities, and the role of innovation in driving sustainable growth.

Professor Andrew Dove, Professor of Sustainable Polymer Chemistry, University of Birmingham and member of the UK Governments Circular Economy Taskforce.

10:40 Opportunities for the Chemicals Sector in delivering the UK Industrial Strategy: This session explores how the chemicals sector can play a central role in meeting the UK’s Industrial Strategy—driving innovation, supporting clean growth, and strengthening national competitiveness.

Alastair Gardner, Head of Trade & Investment, Chemicals,  Department for Business and Trade

10:55 National Materials Innovation Strategy: A look at the UK’s National Materials Innovation Strategy—its goals, priority areas, and how it can accelerate the development of sustainable, high-performance materials for industry.

Professor Suzanne Halden, Project Lead, National Materials Innovation Strategy, ScotChem

11:05 What can Patent Trends tell us about Innovation in the Chemicals Industry?

David Jasiewicz, Patent Attorney, Appleyard Lees

11:10 Innovate UK Business Connect Sustainable Chemicals Innovation Network: An update from the network and UK sustainable chemicals landscape map

Michael Burnett, Innovate UK Business Connect

11:25 Yorkshire and Tees Valley Collaboration for Sustainable Chemicals

Damian Kelly, VP Innovation, Croda

Professor Helen Sneddon, Professor of Sustainable Chemistry and Director of the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, University of York

Sophie Walton, Director of Strategic Partnerships, CPI

11:40 Innovation Grangemouth – Sustainable Chemicals

Aileen Lamb, Innovation Grangemouth Lead, Scottish Enterprise

11:55 Lunch 

Session Two: Smart Regulation for Sustainable Chemicals and Materials
13:00 Bio-based and Biodegradable Materials Regulatory Science and Innovation (BB-REG-NET) Network: BB-REG-NET is a pioneering network uniting experts from academia, industry, policy, regulatory bodies and NGOs. Hear about their upcoming White Paper ‘Bio-Based Policy for People & Planet’.

Dr Jen Vanderhoven, COO, BBIA

13:15 Life Cycle Assessment Regulatory Science and Innovation Network (LCARSIN): Hear about research from LCARSIN on how the foundation industries use life cycle assessment tools to reduce their environmental impact.

Professor Rachel Rothman, University of Sheffield

13:30 Royal Society of Chemicals Roadmap and Polymers in Liquid Formulation: Hear about the next steps for the roadmap.

Professor Anju Massey-Brooker and Stephanie Metzger, Royal Society of Chemistry

13:45 The need for a UK biomass hierarchy and sustainability criteria

Liam Hardy, Head of Research, Green Alliance

14:00 Break

Session Three: UK Hubs for Sustainable Chemicals Innovation and Manufacturing
14:15 Process Industries Net Zero: Green Chemistry and Process Intensification for Sustainable Manufacturing

Ryan Siddall, Innovation & Partnerships Manager, Newcastle University

14:25 Mini Workshop: Carbon-Loop Sustainable Biomanufacturing Hub (C-Loop)

Professor Louise Horsfall, University of Edinburgh

14:55 Mini Workshop: Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Hub (SCHEMA Hub)

Professor Matthew Davidson, University of Bath

15:25 Mini Workshop: Great British Chemicals 

Professor Peter Styring, University of Sheffield

Session Four: UK Leadership in Sustainable Chemistry: What’s Next?

15:55 Live Poll

The UK has long been recognised for its world-class research, innovation, and industrial capacity in sustainable chemistry—from pioneering green chemistry principles to advancing biobased and circular solutions. But with global competition intensifying, net zero deadlines approaching, and increasing demand for low-carbon products, the key question now is: how do we maintain and grow our leadership position? In this interactive session we will use a live poll to explore what the next phase of UK sustainable chemistry could look like—what’s working, where the gaps are, and what opportunities lie ahead.

Dr Mark Corbett, Director, Biorenewables Development Centre

16:20 Summary and Next Steps

16:30 Close