The challenge

Source: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/slowcat/the-challenge/ Parent: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/slowcat/

Our use of fossil fuels is damaging the planet and contributing to climate change – and governments worldwide have committed to reducing and ending our reliance on them.

As we move away from fossil fuels, we need to find other more sustainable, less harmful ways to power and enable our lives.

Fossil fuels are currently used in lots of ways – not just to power our vehicles, homes, leisure facilities and places of work.

They are also used to create the vital ingredients – known as platform chemicals – which go into a lot of our everyday items too – our clothes, health and beauty products, food packaging, comfy chairs, televisions and phones…

In fact, our homes are full of things that are made using chemicals derived from fossil fuels.

So, the race is on to find sustainable and low-carbon alternatives – to ensure resource security and reduce our impact on the planet.

[### Oil in everyday life

Fossil fuels do far more than just power our cars...](https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/slowcat/the-challenge/oil-in-everyday-life/)

[### What about renewables?

Clean renewable energy comes from natural sources like the sun, wind and water.](https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/slowcat/the-challenge/renewables/)

[### Why do we need new catalysts?

Biomass is chemically different to fossil fuel so we can’t use the same catalysts to process it.](https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/slowcat/the-challenge/new-catalysts/)

[### Design a catalyst

Can you use every atom of catalyst to convert every molecule to a green product to replace oil?](https://www.lboro.ac.uk/microsites/catalyst-quiz/)