CelluPac - a biobased alternative to EPS - Step 2

Important results from the project

The goal of the project has been to develop a sustainable cellulose-based material that can replace today´s fossil-based EPS. The pandemic has partly affected the schedule, but factory tests in a real environment have been able to be performed and lessons learned regarding processability have been obtained. We have produced demonstrators, clarified the process for scaling up material production and involved customers for future introduction and evaluation. We have produced a roadmap to achieve a fully commercially viable application. We estimate that the project has reached TRL 6.

Expected long term effects

The result of the project is a produced material that corresponds to the specified ambition, to be able to be used in the existing factory environment for molding products for various purposes. The material will be cellulose-based, completely biodegradable and will be further developed to obtain similar properties as today´s fossil-based EPS. The material will replace EPS in low density in a first step. The effects of this shift will be to reduce the use of fossil resources by at least 95% in the starting material.

Approach and implementation

The project was divided into six WPs; 1 Material design, 2 Upscaling and Material production, 3 Demo and test production in a factory environment, 4 Supply chains and technology economic evaluation, 6 Business concept, financial and marketing plan, 6 Project management. The idea was an iterative approach where all parties had their clear areas of responsibility. This is based on that all parties represents different parts of the value chain for the final goal results. The team works really fine with a good understanding of each other and the process and work has gone well.