Biomaterials overview
Traditionally the papermaking process has only used approximately half of the raw wood material to manufacture pulp and paper products. The balance of the raw material is used to generate energy to power the mill or to sell into the electricity grid. Sappi is, however, developing new processes and biomaterials which extract more value from each tree and supports our business strategy to move into new and adjacent markets.
Sappi’s innovative technology enables us to derive specialty chemicals and food ingredients from the parts of the tree which are not used for papermaking. These high-performance products often displace non-sustainable oil-based alternatives.
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.
Personal care
Coatings
Construction
Agriculture
Cleaning Products
Barrier Coating
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.
Animal nutrition and health
Manufacturers of animal feed will benefit from our cost-effective feed binders and adjuvants for improved feed mill productivity and feed quality.
Crop nutrition and soil conditioning
In the agricultural sector, lignin can improve productivity in various applications such as: micronutrient complexing, soil conditioning and binding for fertiliser granulation.
Construction
The plasticising and dispersive properties of our lignin-based products make them ideally suited for application in concrete admixtures and the manufacture of gypsum board and ceramic products.
Industrial applications
Binding and dispersing solutions for pelletising and briquetting, refractory, packaging paper, pigment binding and dispersion, water treatment and mineral recovery.
Dust control and road stabilisation
Lignin is an environmentally friendly dust suppressant and surface stabiliser for unpaved roads.
Oil and gas drilling
Environmentally friendly alternative cement retarders and mud thinners for the oil and gas drilling industry.