Want to know what it's like to work with ARCS? We've put together some short case study videos with Stori Cymru, to highlight our collaborations over the past year. Want to know more, take a look below...
New case study videos showcase ARCS' partnerships with Lux Biotech, Art of Eco, Green Up Farm, and Zombie Plastics – driving the transition towards the circular economy across South-West Wales. These collaborations demonstrate how collaboration between academia and business can lead to tangible financial, social and environmental improvements across different industries.
What's it like to work with ARCS?
Watch the Individual case studies >> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0gTC9iQAR1youezf8UheYS4GsiFbKKdZ
Industrial Symbiosis: Using Waste to Treat Pollution with Lux Biotech and La Crème Patisserie
Lux Biotech, creates bacteria-based products and La Crème Patisserie is a family-run dessert manufacturer — so what do they have in common? Through ARCS, the two companies formed a partnership where nutrient-rich effluent from La Crème’s cake-cutting process is repurposed by Lux Biotech to grow bacteria. This collaboration helps La Crème manage waste and reduce disposal costs, while Lux Biotech benefits from a cost-effective growth medium. Both companies are now investing in modifying their processes to support this partnership further.
Watch Lux Biotech and La Creme's video >>
Decentralised Manufacturing: Making use of waste where it is created with Art of Eco
Art of Eco produces low-impact, ‘cold cured’ tiles from recycled waste materials, mimicking ceramic and stone finishes. Their process reduces environmental impact and allows for custom designs, like the replica marble slab at Cardiff Train Station. With support from ARCS, they are exploring scalable, decentralized models and protecting their intellectual property to license their process. The project is helping Art of Eco as it develops new products that will reduce the need for new concrete and ceramic materials.
Cycling Pathways: Applying circular design to keep materials in use at Green Up Farm
Green Up Farm is an indoor hydroponic vertical farm in West Wales, specialising in microgreens and microherbs. Using coco coir, a sustainable byproduct, their soil-less farming method reduces water usage by up to 95%. They supply over 30 microgreen varieties to the hospitality sector and operate a successful closed-loop returnable packaging system. As the business scales, ARCS is helping evaluate the shift to recyclable r-PET trays and alternative cycling pathways to maintain the company’s circular values.
Watch Green Up Farm's video >>
Circular Start-ups: Supporting financial sustainability at Zombie Plastics
Zombie Plastics collects and recycles plastic waste from beaches along the Gower coast into functional, physically and emotionally durable products. This Community Interest Company needed to improve its financial viability and process efficiency to ensure it could grow sustainably. ARCS analysed its workflow and explored machinery integration without compromising community impact. Collaboratively, they prototyped a revised business model with a portfolio approach that balances social, environmental, and financial goals.