Biomaterials Overview
Traditionally, the papermaking process has only used approximately half of the raw wood material to manufacture pulp and paper products. The residual raw material is traditionally used to produce energy for the mill or to sell into the electricity grid.
Sappi, in an effort to extract more value from our already sustainable trees, is developing new processes and innovative technologies that diversifies our wood-based product range and positions Sappi for the future. By producing specialty chemicals, functional biomaterials and food ingredients from woody biomass, these products are truly sustainable over oil-based incumbents.
Our Fibrillated Cellulose, Lignin, Furfural and other biomaterials have a wide variety of applications and uses.
Fibrillated Cellulose
Produced from sustainable, natural cellulose fibre, Valida nanocellulose, imparts performance characteristics such as reinforcement and stabilisation in a unique way. Valida is compatible with a diverse range of applications such as cosmetics, coatings, agriculture and construction materials and responds to a critical need to replace undesirable, petroleum-based products.
Lignin
Lignin is a major component of wood and is one of the most abundant natural organic polymers. It has a multitude of functions in various applications and industries.
As a sustainable, natural alternative to oil-based products, the importance of lignin is growing and is becoming an indispensable additive in a wide array of industrial and agricultural uses.
Working together with partners around the world, Sappi actively pursues opportunities to unlock the hidden potential of lignin by developing innovative solutions that support a biobased circular economy
Biochemicals
Furfural is an important biobased platform chemical which is used in a wide variety of industrial applications including foundry resins, solvents and crop protection products.
Xylose and Organic Acids
Sappi has developed and patented an innovative technology to produce Xylose - the key ingredient in xylitol, a widely used sugar substitute - using the hemicellulose co-product from its Verve specialty cellulose operations.