I’ve just issued a press release describing how the humble rosemary plant could revolutionise the way that some oil-based products are made, providing a “greenâ€? alternative to the synthetics and fossil fuels which are presently used.
Research scientists at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany in Cambridge have joined a group of leading industry and research partners to determine the feasibility of using the environmentally friendly antioxidants (AO) extracted from rosemary plants for the production of cosmetics, plastics and lubricants.
It has attracted lots of media interest, including BBC Look East, and Dr Lydia Smith, (pic), who is leading this project has given several follow-up interviews. We are hoping for some national coverage too.
It’s a fascinating project as present evidence suggests that there are relatively large quantities of strong AOs in the foliage of rosemary which could be extracted and used for other purposes besides culinary. Rosemary extract is increasingly under scrutiny for its AO properties. Like other AOs, it inhibits and fights free radicals.
The cutting-edge project is described as “an opportunity to enable the totally green supply of lubricants, cosmetics/health products and polymers, especially packaging”.
Dr Smith said the potential of this project was far reaching, and could really change the way oil-based goods were produced, enabling “greener� alternatives to be used instead of synthetics and fossil fuels.
So next time you use the rosemary plant in one of your recipes, just imagine that it could one day be grown as a crop by UK farmers for its versatility, as an ingrediant in some cosmetics in place of petro-chemicals to improve their shelf life, in the production of plastics used for food packaging and to provide less toxic lubricants than the oil-based alternatives.
Members of the group working with NIAB on this collaborative project, which is partly sponsored by Defra through the Renewable Materials LINK programme, are Bangor University Composites Centre; Aston University; Boots-Alliance; Co-operative Retail; Croda International; Frontier Agriculture; Horticultural Development Council; Industrial Co-polymers; Lubrizol and Uponor Housing Solutions Limited.
I’m not sure where they’ll find space to grow this stuff - what with ‘eco’ towns, food shortages and the prospect of our population rising by 20m by 2080.
Eco town = overspill from urban sprawl.
What on earth is ‘eco’ about ANY sort of building development ?
So why not address our population crisis first ?
The problems with our energy crisis would be greatly mitigated.
Interesting Ellee. I am a big fan of rosemary but find it difficult to grow here where it borders on just being hardy. In the ground is the kiss of death but in containers I have three or four of different ages as I try to get one past about three years when they all conk out on me.
Sounds very interesting. I have lots in my garden!!
Fascinating post but EK has beat me too it - where are they going to grow it? If what they currently use is a by-product of oil (and oil will be used anyway) then why take up space used for the production of food to provide a substitute? I hope to see more on this.
The big green mania for bio-fuels resulted in people chopping down the rainforest to grow bio-fuels. Incredibly stupid from a green point of view but it makes money when the green market is fashionable. Money always wins the day and we have less rainforest because of this every hour, every moment. How green is that?
EK - as far as this land can be said to have an indigenous population it is under threat - the birth rate of English/Scots/Welsh has fallen, I believe, and has been overtaken by the growth of the modern immigrant population for a while now. Tighter border controls and immigration efficiency would go some way to helping. Sadly the Home Office is useless and the UK border agency next to useless.
The birth rate of the Scottish is falling, Pippy ?
Ye Gads ! We can’t even grow our own ginger anymore, let alone bio-fuels !
Sounds really interesting.
What an intriguing idea. That said it’s a long way between the idea and large scale production.
Apart from basil, my favourite herb. I’ve always believed in its healing properties.
We’ve just about run out of rosemary now. Care to send some, Ellee?
It smells better than coal too