VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has launched a major three-year piloting project that aims to take bio-based natural fibre materials developed in laboratories towards more industrial production. Together with 52 Finnish and international companies, the Piloting Alternatives for Plastics project, the selected piloting targets include fibre-based materials that may replace fossil-derived plastic used in packaging, hygiene products, building materials and textiles.
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Plastic is an excellent material with many unique properties in, for example, packaging applications. Plastic consumption is estimated to double over the next 20 years. The biggest challenge for plastic products is their recyclability. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017), only 14 percent of global plastic packaging is recycled, the majority ends up in landfill, as land – or ocean litter or waste-to-energy facilities.
Materials based on natural fibres are an interesting alternative to replace fossil-derived plastics. In the future, they may replace plastics in, for example, packaging, hygiene products, building materials, and textiles.
From laboratory through piloting to the product development phase
In a three-year piloting project, VTT is working with companies to take the manufacture of new generation fibre products towards the scale of industrial production.
The pilots are being carried out at VTT in Jyväskylä, with access to, among other things, the first research environment in the world to utilise the foam-forming process. The selected piloting targets include fibre-based materials to replace the plastics used in, for example, food packaging, filters, textiles as well as wiping, hygiene and construction materials.
In this project, we are creating a new understanding of bio-based fibre networks and how, by tailoring them, we can produce new types of recyclable materials that do not burden the environment, said Jani Lehto, Vice President of VTT.
In the research of new materials, the challenge is to select the most interesting from a wide range of raw material and manufacturing options and to reduce the time it takes to scale the results obtained on a laboratory scale to commercial production scale.
The development work done in the project will result in expertise in various raw materials, equipment, and manufacturing technologies. Based on the development work, companies can move to the product development phase for different solutions in company-driven projects.
The EUR 6.7 million Piloting Alternatives for Plastics project is being funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), VTT and the companies coordinated by the Regional Council of Central Finland. The three-year project was launched on April 1, 2020, and will run until March 31, 2023.
The corporate project partners are Ahlstrom-Munksjö Glassfibre Oy, Andritz Küsters GmbH, Anpap Ltd, Berndorf Band GmbH, Betolar Ltd, BillerudKorsnäs AB, CH-Polymers Oy, CP Kelco Oy, DAIO Paper Corporation, Domtar Paper CO LLC, DS Smith Paper Limited (GBCE), Ecolab Inc., Elomatic Consulting & Engineering Ltd, Epira Oy, Essity Hygiene & Health AB, Evergreen Packaging LLC, Fiber-X Finland Oy, Huhtamäki Oyj, Ibema Cia Brasileira de Papel, Kemira Oyj, Kimberly-Clark Corp., Kuraray Europe GmbH, Lenzing AG, MegaTrex Oy, Metsäliitto Cooperative, Moorim P&P Co. Ltd, Neenah Gessner GmbH, OrganoClick AB, Pankaboard Oyj, Paptic Ltd, Pixact Ltd, ProSolve Oy, P.T. Bukit Muria Jaya (BMJ), PT. Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper – APRIL Group, Sappi Netherlands Services BV, Serres Oy, Solenis LLC, Sonoco-Alcore Oy, Spinnova Ltd, Stora Enso Oyj, Sulzer Pumps Finland Oy, Suominen Corporation, Södra Skogsägarna, Termex-Eriste Oy, TetraPak Packaging Solutions AB, Trinseo Europe GmbH, UPM-Kymmene Corporation, Valmet Technologies, Inc., Visuvari Oy, Vologda Pulp to SWEZA, Weidmann Electrical Technology AG, and Wetend Technologies Ltd
