Wageningen Food & Biobased Research’s Post

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 Oily wastewater from industries like textiles and food processing remains a major environmental challenge—difficult to treat and often reliant on costly or non-sustainable solutions. A new study introduces a smarter alternative: a biodegradable membrane made from jute agricultural waste. 🔹 >99% oil-water separation efficiency 🔹 Reusable via a “skin-replaceable” design 🔹 Made from abundant, low-cost biomass 🔹 Produced through a simple, scalable process "Conventional treatments often rely on PFAS-based materials that are discarded after use, says Andreas Larsson, Professor at Luleå University of Technology and co-director of the WISE – Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability Research School. “We are very proud of this work, where we developed an atomistic theory to understand the cellulose dissolution mechanisms and regeneration behavior, supporting the experimental results.” 📄 Published in npj Clean Water https://lnkd.in/dFcP-iSc

We are pleased to share that our work has been highlighted by #WISE (Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability). The feature highlights the sustainability aspect of our biodegradable membrane, particularly the development of its barrier layer from biomass-derived cellulose through a sustainable approach. The WISE article also presents the main contributions of our study following an interview with Prof. Andreas Larsson. My sincere thanks to all co-authors and collaborators from different disciplines for their support and contributions. WISE feature: https://lnkd.in/dZAu-uGD Published article: https://lnkd.in/dEyimEwd (https: //www.nature.com/ articles/ s41545-025-00538-3) #Research #Sustainability #MembraneScience #WaterTreatment #BiodegradableMaterials #KFUPM

Proud to see SUPREME coating contributing to the discussion on sustainable materials for coatings! A big thank you to our consortium partner and Scientific Coordinator, Zhenyu Jason Zhang, for representing the project at the second workshop of the Circular, Sustainable and Biobased Coating Cluster. Useful links: 📄 Speakers' presentations: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d8hNJqYT 📋 Proceedings & white paper with key policy messages: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dPhVAYch 🎥 Watch the recording: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dz2WZkAC

This is a very encouraging perspective shared by Andritz (including Laroche) for how to develop better processing technologies in order to maintain the desirable properties of hemp and other bast fibers - despite the challenge of variability compared to other natural fibers. So often you can hear at fiber and textile events that hemp fiber is "too variable and too complex." When there's a will there's a way.

Not all “bio-based” solutions are automatically better—sometimes the trade-offs show up in places you don’t expect. Today’s speaker spotlight: Hanna Sofia Leiter (Wood K plus - Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH) — representing SUSBOARD and presenting Sticking to Sustainability – a (social) Life Cycle Assessment of bio-based adhesives for wood panels Switching from fossil-based to bio-based adhesives can change the footprint of wood panels in more ways than one—both environmental and social. Bio-based options may reduce the CO2 footprint, but can increase impacts elsewhere (for example, eutrophication). Hanna will unpack what these trade-offs can look like, and why the way you set up the assessment matters—e.g., your system boundary, functional unit, and the method you choose. If you work on wood products, materials sustainability, or LCA/SLCA, join us to hear from 5 EU-funded projects FUELGAE Project, BIOBUILD, CELLFIL, RecAL – Recycling Technologies for Circular Aluminium, and SUSBOARD. ➡️ Register for 28 April, 10:00 CET: https://lnkd.in/d77wGSRj #LCA #SocialLCA #SustainableMaterials #Bioeconomy #CircularEconomy #EUProjects CSIC ANALISIS-DSC ITENE Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) VTT University of Oulu Client: Inlecom Systems Ltd (UK & Greece) ArcelorMittal Europe -Tubular Products PERSEO Biotechnology S.L. HELLENiQ ENERGY National Technical University of Athens RTDS Group ArcelorMittal Europe CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

**Polymers in Sustainability – From Reality to Future Vision** Polymers have transformed modern life—but they’ve also raised serious environmental concerns. The question today isn’t just *how we use polymers*, but *how we make them sustainable*. 🔍 **The Challenge:** Traditional polymers are mainly derived from petroleum and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, creating major issues in waste management and pollution. 💡 **Main Types of Sustainable Polymers (with Examples):** - **Biodegradable Polymers:** Designed to break down under environmental conditions Examples: PLA (Polylactic Acid), PHA - **Bio-based Polymers:** Produced from renewable resources instead of fossil fuels Examples: Starch-based polymers, Bio-PE - **Recyclable Polymers:** Can be reprocessed and reused in production cycles Examples: PET, HDPE - **Water-soluble Polymers:** Dissolve in water for specific applications Example: PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) ⚠️ **Current Limitations & Challenges:** - Higher cost compared to conventional plastics - Limited mechanical and thermal performance in some cases - Need for specific conditions (industrial composting) to degrade - Recycling infrastructure is still not efficient in many regions **Where Scientists Are Heading:** - **Chemical Recycling:** converting waste back to monomers for high-quality reuse - **Design for Degradation:** polymers engineered to break down on demand - **Hybrid Materials:** combining sustainability with high performance - **Reducing Carbon Footprint:** using greener synthesis routes **Engineering Perspective:** Sustainability is not just about choosing a material—it’s about **full lifecycle thinking**: from raw material → processing → usage → disposal or recycling. The future of polymers isn’t just about durability or cost—it’s about **balance**. Creating materials that meet performance needs while protecting the environment is the real challenge for the next generation of engineers. #Polymers #Sustainability #MaterialsScience #CircularEconomy #GreenEngineering #Innovation #Recycling #ChemicalEngineering #Environment #SustainableFuture

Great project! The durability of this mycelium canoe can be enhanced with sustainable coatings, based on crosslinking naturally occurring oils. These oils may also affect the flexibility of the mycelium.

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 – 𝗔 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 (𝟳.𝟳𝟴% 𝗖𝗔𝗚𝗥) View More: https://lnkd.in/gmTTmW6b The Natural Fiber Composites (NFC) market is gaining strong momentum as industries accelerate their shift toward sustainable and lightweight materials. Valued at USD 421.64 million in 2025, the market is projected to reach USD 827.52 million by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 7.78%. 🔍 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? Rising environmental regulations, increasing demand for recyclable materials, and the push for carbon footprint reduction are transforming material selection across industries. Natural fibers such as wood, hemp, flax, and jute are emerging as viable alternatives to synthetic reinforcements, particularly in automotive and construction applications. 🏭 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 Leading companies shaping the competitive landscape include FlexForm Technologies LLC, Green Dot Bioplastics, Inc., Trex Company, GreenCore Composites, TECNARO GmbH, and Procotex Corporation SA. , UPM-Kymmene Corporation, Fiberon LLC. These players are actively investing in bio-based innovation and scalable production technologies. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 • 𝗕𝘆 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Wood fiber composites dominate, followed by hemp, flax, and jute-based variants • 𝗕𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘅: Synthetic polymers remain prevalent, though natural polymers are gaining traction • 𝗕𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗱-𝗨𝘀𝗲: Automotive leads adoption, with growing demand from construction, consumer goods, and packaging sectors 🚀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 Natural fiber composites are no longer niche materials—they are becoming central to circular economy strategies. With advancements in performance characteristics and cost optimization, NFCs are expected to penetrate high-performance applications, including aerospace and advanced consumer products. #Sustainability #Composites #GreenMaterials #CircularEconomy #MarketTrends #AdvancedMaterials

A new material innovation demonstrates how everyday waste streams can be transformed into high-value building solutions. Researchers at Shenyang Agricultural University have developed a biodegradable insulation material made from spent coffee grounds, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil-based products commonly used in architecture, construction and packaging. Read more at https://lnkd.in/eq9baW6X #MaterialInspiration #Materials #CoffeeWaste #Biochar #SustainableMaterials #CircularDesign #Biobased #MaterialInnovation #GreenBuilding #Insulation #WasteToValue #ArchitectureMaterials