Latest news with #cellulose
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Stora Enso and Novapor to launch pilot for cellulose foam packaging
Stora Enso has teamed up with German company Novapor for a pilot project using Papira, a cellulose-based foam packaging material. The initiative seeks to replace traditional foams with a wood fibre-based alternative that maintains protective qualities while reducing carbon emissions. Stora Enso Biofoams business development director Juulia Kuhlman said: 'Collaborating with Novapor is a natural fit for us. 50 years of experience in developing innovative packaging, they consistently go the extra mile to solve their clients' challenges. 'This curiosity and drive have been key to the success of our pilot project. The rules and regulations on waste management are strict, but they will be even stricter come 2030. Providing the market with a foam that can be recycled in your regular paper and cardboard stream is a really important benefit.' Novapor, which focuses on water jet cutting technology, adjusted its processes to handle paper-based foam to meet client requirements. Its Danish branch, Novapor Nordic, works to deliver packaging solutions to support customers' environmental objectives. Novapor is identifying clients where Papira suits both practical and branding purposes. One pilot project is Københavns Møbelsnedkeri, which needed eco-friendly packaging for its high-end bathroom mirrors, previously cushioned with polyethylene foam. The company sought a recyclable, wood fibre-based single-material solution compatible with paper and board recycling systems. The collaboration between Stora Enso and Novapor Nordic started two years ago, with both teams refining the Papira conversion process over this time. Through consistent testing and aligned environmental goals, the partnership has developed a viable packaging solution, advancing the use of wood-based foams in the sector. Novapor Nordic head Thomas Søgaard said: 'Transitioning to wood fibre-based solutions is an important next step in packaging and monomaterial packaging made entirely of cardboard and paper, rather than plastic combinations, is highly relevant for our client.' In April this year, Stora Enso launched Performa Nova, a folding boxboard solution for consumer packaging. "Stora Enso and Novapor to launch pilot for cellulose foam packaging" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
ABC News
12-07-2025
- Science
- ABC News
New process turns wheat straw and oat husks into sustainable clothing
The grains behind some of your favourite breakfast cereals could become a part of your future wardrobe, according to new research out of Europe. Researchers at Chalmers University in Sweden have discovered a process to turn wheat straw and oat husks, left behind after harvest and milling, into textiles. They hope it will eventually lead to new sources of sustainable fabric, reducing the world's reliance on synthetics made from non-renewable sources. While farmers in Australia will need to be convinced, those working on the frontier of new materials say there are compelling reasons to explore going from high fibre to high fashion. The quest for new sources of textiles is not a new one. Before the advent of synthetics like polyester and manufactured fibres such as rayon, textiles made from cotton, wool and silk are woven through human history. But humanity's demand for affordable fashion is a challenge for sustainability. The researchers at Chalmers University's department of chemistry and chemical engineering are searching for new sources of cellulose, the structural component of plant cell walls that allows them to stand upright. Cellulose has been used in manufactured textiles since the 1880s. "We looked into what Sweden would have for side-streams [from farms] that contain cellulose and which would also be available for the whole year round," Associate Professor Diana Bernin, who co-authored the study, said. Early uses of cellulose include artificial silk and carbon fibres for light bulbs, but these days it is most commonly sourced from wood and made into rayon, also known as viscose. Dr Bernin said the process, which involves creating a pulp similar to that used to make paper, is difficult, energy-intensive, uses toxic chemicals and has been linked to deforestation. Published in the Royal Society of Chemistry Sustainability journal, the study tested wheat straw, oat husks, potato and sugar beet pulp — all by-products produced on Swedish farms. "We figured out that potato and sugar beet are very difficult because they might contain a lot of soil," Dr Bernin said. "But it worked very well for the oat husks and wheat straw." Through a method called soda pulping, the plant material was able to be dissolved, washed and spun into a fibre, producing a final product "very similar" to cotton. "Chemistry-wise, it's the same molecule inside," Dr Bernin said. At Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials in Geelong, Associate Professor Chris Hurren is also working to reduce the environmental impact of fabric. He said cotton made up about a quarter of the world's textile supply, wool accounted for about 2 per cent, with the remaining 65 to 70 per cent comprised of oil-based polyester. If the oat husks and wheat straw could provide a high-purity source of cellulose then they had huge potential, he said. "Research could occur in Australia to understand what is the ability for Australian materials to go down this path," he said. But while the researchers were looking to add value to what European farmers considered to be waste, growers like Bradley Misfud in central Queensland already see it as valuable. On his Kilcummin farm, south-west of Mackay, rain is sporadic and the wheat straw is "one of the biggest assets of the crop". "Because we don't have big, strong, long winters, our wheat crops and yields aren't anywhere near what they get further south. "We don't really have a big bulk density of straw to begin with, which is why we're pretty cautious about looking after and leaving what we have where it is." Mr Misfud said he commonly left about 30 to 40 centimetres of wheat straw in the ground to help prevent erosion and retain soil moisture, compared to the 10-15 centimetres left behind in Sweden. But Queensland is Australia's smallest wheat region, with the bulk of the crop grown in Western Australia, NSW, Victoria and South Australia — where, Mr Misfud said, there could be some application. "I just feel that this particular strategy may not work in our area. "We've all learnt with minimum till practices … capturing moisture is king, and that's what we're all trying to do day in, day out." Beyond the climates where wheat and oats were grown, Dr Hurren said people all over the world were looking for alternative sources of cellulose. He said seaweed, food waste, algae, banana, pineapple, kenaf, bamboo, hemp, coconut, linseed and blended textiles were all being investigated. "We need to look at some new sources of fibres to fill the void," he said. But he said strategies to reduce demand also needed to be explored. "Australia is the world leader in the number of garments we buy per person … and something like 40 per cent of the garments coming into Australia don't get sold," he said.
National Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
Cellulotech Secures Strategic Investment to Scale Its Breakthrough Green Chemistry Technology
Article content VICTORIA, British Columbia — Cellulotech, a pioneering company in green chemistry and sustainable material innovation, is proud to announce the successful closing of a seed fundraising round led by Neglected Climate Opportunities, a subsidiary of the Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust. The Round also welcomed the participation of Meliorate Partners, a leading early-stage sustainability fund focusing on transformative industrial innovators. Article content This strategic investment will empower Cellulotech to scale its patented solvent-free cellulose functionalization technology—enabling the replacement of plastic, PFAS, and other unsustainable or harmful materials. The innovation offers a scalable, bio-based, cost-effective, and fully recyclable cellulose-based alternative —including applications in paper, packaging, hygiene, textiles, or construction—unlocking a significant opportunity to competitively decarbonize and detoxify global supply chains and add value to the most abundant organic compound on earth: cellulose. Article content 'We're excited to join forces with investors who not only have decades of experience scaling breakthrough technologies but also share our ambitious, long‑term vision,' said Romain Metivet, Co‑Founder and CEO of Cellulotech. Article content 'Their support recognizes my discovery, and nothing is more exciting than seeing it finally reach the market,' added Dr. Daniel Samain, Co‑Founder and Scientific Director. As regulatory and market pressures accelerate the shift to sustainable alternatives, Cellulotech is leading the way—delivering green technologies that not only meet standards but carry a clear 'green discount,' making sustainability the default—without compromising performance or cost. Article content Article content Article content Article content Name: Article content Romain Metivet Article content Article content Title: Article content Co‑Founder & CEO Article content Article content Phone: Article content +1 604 902 1405 Article content Article content Article content Article content
