The market pull for biobased materials is now unprecedented, driven by worldwide sustainability initiatives to eliminate or replace single-use plastics, to reduce the use of fossil fuels, and keep water and air free of pollution.
As a result of the sugars, oils, and lignin in trees, today’s pulp mills have an unlocked potential as biorefineries. Lignin is one of the most abundant bio-based polymers on the planet, and the industry is currently only burning it (over 99% or approximately 86mm tons burned per year).
Lignin-based products can replace numerous fossil-based products, such as plastics ($600B), lead acid batteries ($80B market), adhesives ($63B), aqua feed ($70B), and dispersants ($7B), just to name a few.