Green chemistry: INCREASE brings together research and industry

How can green chemistry be developed? According to a novel network inaugurated on Friday 13 May at the University of Poitiers, the answer is to use biomass, a source of renewable carbon, as raw material. Set up by the CNRS with the support of the Aquitaine Limousin Poitou-Charentes region to the tune of M€ 1. INCREASE is a public-private collaborative network dedicated to eco-design and renewable resources. At present it brings together around 200 researchers from eight research laboratories, as well as players in various sectors of the chemical industry including cosmetics, agrifood and detergents. Benefiting from the synergy between research and industry, the network aims to carry out cutting-edge research while meeting the challenge of placing sustainable products and processes on the French and world markets. INCREASE also aims to become a worldwide reference network for the recycling of biomass by physical methods. Focused on sustainability, green chemistry is quickly expanding, especially as it is now becoming economically profitable and competitive in a number of sectors.