Renewing Possibility — What is green chemistry? Simply put, it is chemicals made from renewable resources. It is not a new concept. In 1941, Henry Ford unveiled a “field-grown” plastic car. Ford came up with the idea in the Depression, and then World War II enhanced the need for plant-based plastics. However, the end of World War II opened access to oil supplies globally and created the dawn of the petrochemical age.

For the next 60 years, the petrochemical industry drove significant global growth and an expanded chemistry industry. But cost, health, environmental and security concerns, along with managing the use of oil, are creating a shift to sustainable technologies and products. Transformation and development of a hybrid chemistry industry is setting the standards for the 21st century.

This puts Canada in a unique position to become a global chemistry leader. We have the resources to create a sustainable hybrid chemistry industry. The resources are agriculture, forestry and waste materials. The knowledge is within Canada’s universities and industries or in other areas of the globe that need our natural resources.

Green Cluster

In Sarnia, Ontario, a true cluster is growing in the area of green and sustainable chemistry, based on fostering partnerships and developing synergies from having all the right individuals come together within industry, colleges, universities and local governments — to support the hybrid chemistry cluster.

Nothing happens without a plan, though. Sarnia’s plan came together over a 10-year time frame. It was designed to work with and build off of the petroleum-based cluster that needed to be maintained.

As the plan came together a number of things were implemented. The Sarnia-Lambton Research Park was established in partnership with Western University; the Bioindustrial Innovation Centre (BIC) was granted Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) funding; and Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) played an investment and facilitating role in establishing bioindustrial companies.

As we look back from 2013, the progress is visible thanks to the efforts of many people in the community. BIC and the Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (SCA) have 14 investments between them; the pilot facility has three tenants doing pilot and demonstration-scale development (Woodland Biofuels, GreenCore Composites and KmX Technologies). New businesses, such as Methes, S4C02 and BioAmber, are also getting established.

There are two industrial parks focused on attracting green and sustainable businesses to Sarnia. These parks are managed by Lanxess and TransAlta, and they both are very interested in new startups with a sustainable focus.

BioAmber is the first full-scale plant for bio-based chemicals in Canada, and it is building at the Lanxess Industrial Park in Sarnia, Ontario. Why Sarnia? Because BioAmber found a community that wanted to work with it to ensure success.

Sarnia-Lambton is becoming a site location for the bio-based chemical industry and green energy (solar) industry. Others in the region are Suncor Ethanol, Enbridge (solar energy) and Greenfield Ethanol.

Green Jobs and Local Investment

Sarnia-Lambton is known for playing to its strengths and is characterized as a leader in green energy jobs. That’s not a bad reputation to have — and one that proves a region can be recast, moving from tough economic times to a future filled with opportunity. As the eastern Canadian hub for refined petroleum and petrochemical products, Sarnia-Lambton has a promising future thanks to the ongoing work of the local community and some key organizations that have been driving a vision to transform the region into a leading center for chemistry, clean energy, bio-industry, and more importantly, growth. In addition, the area boasts one of the world’s strongest clusters of education for the chemical industry.

Not surprisingly, a consequence of these efforts is that there is significant local investment in the community. According to George Mallay, general manager of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP), the evolution of Sarnia-Lambton became important with the onset of globalization and the harsh reality facing the once-vibrant petrochemical industry, because of aging technologies and aggressive worldwide competition: “What we needed was to redefine Sarnia-Lambton, drawing on its inherent benefits. We lived through difficult times, but we learned from it and are looking forward. There is no going back.”

What Mallay and other SLEP partners recognize is the rich opportunity in Sarnia-Lambton with its significant infrastructure — pipelines; feedstock; storage caverns; power, gas and steam supplies; transportation and distribution arteries, including rail systems, shipping channels and a deep-sea port. In addition, there is brainpower, the hum of human energy, and dedication to addressing the needs of the future by developing unique, sustainable, alternate energy supplies, agri-food technologies and bio-based chemicals. This makes Sarnia a true hybrid cluster.

Bridging The Gap

In conjunction with the work of SLEP, the BIC/SCA — whose efforts have helped bridge the gap between biochemistry and synthetic chemistry — has been a significant change agent. With headquarters at the Sarnia-Lambton Campus of the Western University Research Park, its proximity means Bioindustrial Innovation Canada is uniquely positioned for collaboration. It is touted as the leading bioindustrial accelerator with a shared pilot plant facility that opened in 2010, focused on sustainable feedstock as an alternative to petrochemicals — things like soybeans, corn, switchgrass and algae that will create greener products. I am excited about the emerging bio-cluster in Sarnia-Lambton and the business connectivity collaboration provides.  There is tremendous expertise in this region, and by leveraging ideas, forming strategic partnerships and working together, there is no doubt we’ll continue to distinguish ourselves as a vibrant center for bio-industry. 

We recognize how important the shift was from a purely petrochemical industry to that of a hybrid chemical industry — a combination of green chemistry (bio-based) and petrochemicals. Because of this shift, consumers will have a choice of cleaner products. The shift is a true positive for Sarnia-Lambton and one that just made sense: The facilities to make this change happen are already in Sarnia, but the benefit is that our community, the county, the city and the petrochemical industry are all highly supportive of this initiative. They see the benefits of having Sarnia leverage these strengths and build the bio-based and hybrid chemical industry.