Adding value: The magic of trees

Forests are important carbon sinks and afforestation is a priority for Irelands’ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The Afforestation Scheme 2023 – 2027 aims to increase forest cover in Ireland from 11% to 18%. Forest expansion in Ireland is part of our climate change measures, with diverse species selection to support biodiversity. With sustainable forest management and good practice, forestry and forestry biomass are a key feedstock of the circular economy.

High value applications for wood biomass – Biopolymers

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants transform light energy into chemical energy, including food for the plant itself, capturing carbon dioxide in the process. Trees convert solar energy into substances called lignocelluloses through photosynthesis.

While wood can be burned as fuel to provide energy and heat, it is better to adopt the cascading approach and harness the value of its complex substances in the production of high performing materials where possible. Lignoceullulosic biomass can be used to replace fossil fuels in the production of chemicals.

Many projects are underway to develop processes and innovate opportunities for these natural products that nature has channelled so much energy to build. New technologies from companies such as Fibenol in Estonia are coming onstream that can separate over 90% of woody biomass into high-value materials.

In Estonia, timber is a key export. Fibenol recognised the opportunity to valorise the wood leftovers of the timber industry and turn them into high-value biomaterials. The company produces a lignin-based polymer product called Lignova that can replace fossil-based chemicals and can also be used to produce biochemicals, coatings, adhesives and resins.

The company also produces lignocellulosic sugars that can be used for fermentation for biofuels, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Fibenol turns wood biomass into a brown slurry using heat, pressure and mechanical power. It then uses enzymatic processes to turn the slurry into the lignin and wood sugar products that can be used in a variety of applications.

High value applications for wood biomass – Textiles

Textile consumption has a huge negative impact on the environment. Five million tonnes of clothing are discarded each year in the EU, around 12 Kg per person and only 1% is recycled into new clothing. The rest goes to landfill, is incinerated or exported overseas with negative environmental impact.

Globally, it is estimated that one full truckload of textiles goes to landfill or incineration every second. Synthetic textiles, such as polyesters or nylon, are also a source of microplastics in our environment. 35% of all ocean microplastics come from textiles and clothing, primarily due to shedding during washing.

Strategies to promote circularity and sustainability in the textiles sector include a shift to recycled fibres and natural fibres with campaigns to encourage a move away from fast fashion to more durable long lasting quality textiles.

Wood biomass can be used to make textiles. There is a long history of using cellulosic fibres to make materials such as viscose. Cellulosic fibres start life as part of trees or plants. The material pulp is dissolved and put through a spinning process to turn into a fibre or yarn that can be woven into fabric.

Newer materials such as Lyocell use dissolving chemicals that are non-toxic and largely recoverable in the process and so can be considered more eco-friendly, and circular in production. Wood biomass also requires less land usage than other natural materials such as cotton. In Finland, the textile company Spinnova has developed patented technology for making textile fibre out of wood pulp without harmful chemicals with minimal emissions and water use.

High value applications for wood biomass – High performance materials

Cellulose nanofibers have been developed that are lightweight but stronger than steel. In 2016, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment launched the Nano Cellulose Vehicle (NCV) project and in 2019 a wooden concept cat was exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show.