Recent information

More and more cellulose fibre companies are looking for alternative feedstocks to supplement their wood supply. This is due to economic reasons such as rising prices and declining availability of wood. At the same time, sustainability aspects are playing an increasing role, for instance options to use locally sourced feedstocks or even waste streams. Also process technologies that require less chemicals and energy to extract the fibres due to the lower lignin content of the alternative raw materials can provide suitable solutions.

However, the use of alternative feedstock as raw material for chemical pulp is still is in an initial stage. In order to characterise new raw materials and identify right substitutes or complements for wood fibres, numerous tests have to be carried out. Meanwhile the search for alternative feedstock raises multiple questions: What alternative feedstocks are available? How can these be processed? Can we use traditional fibre processing lines or do we need new technologies? Which supply chains are already available and how will these supply chains develop in the future? The session “Alternative Feedstocks and Supply Chains” will give a comprehensive overview of the spectrum of common application areas for cellulose fibres and introduce and evaluate alternative novel value chains.

These and developments other questions represent the lead topics of the upcoming Cellulose Fibres Conference on 8-9 March 2023 in Cologne, Germany, and online.