Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NORDIC BIO-RUBBER (Sustainable rubber for the environment.)
Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-01-31
Today, globally about 15 million tons of rubbers are produced per year from fossil resources like crude oil or natural gas. This created a strong dependence on maintaining a steady supply of fossil resources and is also associated with large carbon dioxide emissions.
To phase out fossil resources and establish a truly sustainable bioeconomy, new biomass-based processes and novel biomaterials need to be developed. Previously, we have used a biorefinery approach to isolate different fractions from birch bark. Notably, from one of the isolated fractions we created a novel bio-elastomer called Reselo Rubber. This project aims to (i) prepare the technical industrialisation of our birch bark biorefinery process and (ii) build the basis for the market launch of our Reselo Rubber.
Importantly, our business holds global potential since renewable rubber materials are needed across many industries. Further, our feedstock birch bark is already today available at an industrial scale since it is a residue of the global pulp, paper and plywood industry with over 600,000 tons being generated in Scandinavia alone.
To phase out fossil resources and establish a truly sustainable bioeconomy, new biomass-based processes and novel biomaterials need to be developed. Previously, we have used a biorefinery approach to isolate different fractions from birch bark. Notably, from one of the isolated fractions we created a novel bio-elastomer called Reselo Rubber. This project aims to (i) prepare the technical industrialisation of our birch bark biorefinery process and (ii) build the basis for the market launch of our Reselo Rubber.
Importantly, our business holds global potential since renewable rubber materials are needed across many industries. Further, our feedstock birch bark is already today available at an industrial scale since it is a residue of the global pulp, paper and plywood industry with over 600,000 tons being generated in Scandinavia alone.
So far we have focused mainly on developing our biorefinery process by ensuring a scalable and sustainable process design. This includes mainly optimising process parameters for resource efficiency, including solvent recovery cycles, re-design process steps for improved sustainability as well as reviewing unit processes with experienced consultants as well as industrial equipment suppliers.
Further, we established relationships with several potential suppliers of birch bark in Sweden. Importantly, we also identified potential sites as well as the production capacity for our future demo production plant.
In addition, based on our granted Swedish patent we have entered the national phases in relevant markets to prepare a future commercialisation of our material.
Further, we established relationships with several potential suppliers of birch bark in Sweden. Importantly, we also identified potential sites as well as the production capacity for our future demo production plant.
In addition, based on our granted Swedish patent we have entered the national phases in relevant markets to prepare a future commercialisation of our material.
During our development activities we build a robust process, more sustainable and commercially attractive process, which de-risks the further scale-up of our technology. However, significant investment will be required to establish our demo production plant and this remains a challenge, especially under current market conditions.
On the other hand, we have made great progress to integrate our material into several applications by closely collaborating with customers and partners. This will help us to further broaden our customer base in the next part of this project, but incentivising the market to phase out fossil-based materials through legislation would greatly support our efforts.
Finally, we currently valorise only one of three fractions isolated from birch bark through our biorefinery process. While the remaining fractions can serve as energy source, further research and development are needed to find non-energy applications for these compounds. Importantly, first efforts are already described in the literature to valorise also these isolated compounds with some applications that are being commercialised in low volume markets.
On the other hand, we have made great progress to integrate our material into several applications by closely collaborating with customers and partners. This will help us to further broaden our customer base in the next part of this project, but incentivising the market to phase out fossil-based materials through legislation would greatly support our efforts.
Finally, we currently valorise only one of three fractions isolated from birch bark through our biorefinery process. While the remaining fractions can serve as energy source, further research and development are needed to find non-energy applications for these compounds. Importantly, first efforts are already described in the literature to valorise also these isolated compounds with some applications that are being commercialised in low volume markets.