ExpandFibre: Sustainable Bioproducts for a Greener Future | Knowledge Hub | Circle Economy Foundation
We are experiencing technical issues| No new articles can be added at this time. We are working hard to fix it. Sorry for the inconvenience.
imageimage
image

Approved by curator

Business case
ExpandFibre: Sustainable Bioproducts for a Greener Future
0
0

ExpandFibre is an R&D collaboration and an ecosystem launched by Fortum and Metsä Group to accelerate the development of sustainable bioproducts. It focuses on upgrading pulp fibres, hemicellulose, and lignin from renewable and sustainable sources of straw and northern wood into new bioproducts. Its mission is to meet the growing demands for sustainable textile fibres and other added value biomaterials.

Problem

The global demand for sustainable alternatives in various industries, such as textiles and packaging, has intensified the need for innovative solutions that reduce the negative environmental impact caused by traditional materials. Conventional production processes and materials contribute to pollution and depletion of natural resources, necessitating a shift towards sustainable biomaterials.

Solution

To address this challenge, Fortum and Metsä Group have joined forces to launch ExpandFibre, an R&D collaboration and ecosystem dedicated to accelerating the development of sustainable bioproducts. ExpandFibre focuses on upgrading renewable and sustainable sources of straw and northern wood, including pulp fibres, hemicellulose, and lignin, into new and advanced bioproducts. The collaboration encompasses company-led R&D efforts conducted jointly and separately, with a particular emphasis on textile and biocomposite applications.

The companies actively collaborate with academia, technology developers, and R&D service providers, pooling their expertise to drive research and development that supports the future commercialization of innovative bioproducts. The ExpandFibre Programmes consist of a portfolio of shorter projects, complemented by public-funded ecosystem projects, such as Co-Innovation projects supported by Business Finland.

Specifically, in the textile sector, ExpandFibre focuses on developing new sustainable textile fibres, conducting analytics and performance testing of staple fibres, exploring novel applications and post-treatment technologies, and establishing efficient recycling and traceability systems.

In the packaging domain, the collaboration aims to create innovative pulp-based alternatives to conventional plastic packaging, along with tools and processes for sustainable packaging design.

Additionally, the utilization of hemicellulose as industrial ingredients and platform chemicals holds immense potential for various applications, including refining and separation of hemicellulosic sugars, and the exploration of xylose, pentoses, and furfural as valuable resources.

Outcome

Through their mission, Fortum and Metsä Group are actively contributing to meeting the growing demand for sustainable bioproducts.

ExpandFibre's efforts is an illustration of how the sustainable bioproducts industry is set to experience a transformative shift.

Additional information

Photo by Irina Iacob on Unsplash

Relevant links