Manufacturing Biomass-Based Plastics

With new technology originally developed at EPFL , plant materials can be used as an alternative to petroleum derivatives for producing a wide range of products, including bioplastics, textiles, and cosmetics. EPFL spin-off Bloom Biorenewables is producing the biomass technology. Currently only cellulose, which accounts for about 40% of biomass’ total weight, can be recovered and the rest is either burned or discarded. Bloom Biorenewables' technology allows biomass' other components, namely lignin and hemicellulose, to be recovered intact. Potential applications are wide-ranging, and would let manufacturers use nearly 75% of this environment-friendly resource.


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Materials