UPM-Biofore-Magazine-3-2016-EN

TEXT MATTI REMES

PHOTOGRAPHY JANNE LEHTINEN

Global megatrends, like resource scarcity, population growth, urbanization and higher living standards are increasing interest in biochemicals.

Biochemicals – new value from wood

UPM Biochemicals leads the industry as a developer of wood- based chemicals. The market for these environmentally friendly products is expected to expand significantly over the coming years.

B oth industry and consumers are keen to reduce the world’s dependency on fossil-based rawmaterials andmove towards products that are manufactured from renewable materials with a minimal impact on the environment. “The key drivers behind this trend are climate change mitigation and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” says Jyrki Ovaska , Executive Vice President for Technology at UPM. For example, the food industry is looking into packages made from bio-basedmaterials instead of crude oil. Global corporations manufacturing products such as toys and furniture are also looking for similar options. “And there are various other megatrends that are increasing

interest in biochemicals. These include resource scarcity, population growth, urbanization and higher living standards,” Ovaska says. The European Chemical Industry

to replace fossil-based resins in plywood production,” Konttinen says. Biofibrils are cellulose-based micro- and nanofibril products that can be used for shaping and reinforcing different materials. Biofibrils can also be used in new biomedical applications. UPM has newly launched GrowDex®, a proprietary hydrogel for cell culturing inmedical research and other applications. R&D rollouts begin UPMhas been investing in biochemical research for several years now. “R&D is a long-term initiative that requires perseverance. We are finally approaching the point when we can gradually start to commercialize our innovations in biochemicals,” reveals Ovaska. UPM’s breakthroughs with biochemicals follow in the wake of the company’s success in biofuel development. After a long research phase and successful testing at a pilot facility, UPMhas established a production plant for its biofuel innovation, UPMBioVerno. “Commercial production requires sizeable investments. Before any

Council (Cefic) estimates that the 2013 market value of the global chemical industry was

Jyrki Ovaska and Juuso Konttinen

EUR 3.2 trillion. By 2030, the figure is expected to rise to EUR 6.3 trillion. “As yet, however, bio-based chemicals still account for only a small proportion of this figure,” Ovaska points out. Replacing oil in plastic UPMBiochemicals is currently focusing on four product categories: chemical building blocks, lignin products, biofibrils and biomedical products. “Bio-based chemical building blocks can for example be used to replace oil-based chemicals in plastic production,” explains Juuso Konttinen , Vice President, UPM Biochemicals. Wood-based lignin is meanwhile yielding ideas for a wide array of products designed for various end-uses. “It can for instance be used to manufacture bio-based resins

decisions are made, we need to be sure that the technology works.” Konttinen adds that innovations require collaboration between universities, research institutions and the companies developing the new technologies and businesses. “All the required expertise cannot come fromwithin the company alone. Finding the right partners and networks is essential.” A good example of this type of broad-ranging collaboration is UPM’s ValChemproject, which aims to demonstrate the viability of producing chemical building blocks and lignin fromwood rawmaterial. The international project pools expertise from the forestry, chemical and biotechnology industries. ValChem has received EUR 13.1 million in funding from the EU. 

UPM Biochemicals has already commercialized the first lignin applications and biomedical products. One example is GrowDex, hydrogel for 3D cell culturing.

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