Circular economy and bio-based products are major themes at PulPaper 2018

Environmental standards, often seen as a burden on industry, are approached at PulPaper as an opportunity. As consumer purchasing behaviours are increasingly being guided by sustainability interests and responsible production, innovations that cater to consumers’ demands in terms of ecology, functionality, aesthetics and price level are emerging as competitive advantages for companies.

Plastic is the dominant packaging material the world over. Due to its long decomposition period, plastic waste places a great burden on the environment. Today, bioplastics are finding application in a wide range of industrial sectors, including electronics, agriculture, textiles and healthcare. Wood is envisioned as the renewable raw material of the future, which will be used in both packaging materials and textiles.

PulPaper Conference will present solutions based on renewable wood materials to replace fossil-based materials. The Swedish start-up Cellutech will reveal what new materials the company is currently developing from wood. The current development of bioplastics will also be reviewed. The Finnish packaging startup Sulapac will be presented as a business case that provides a great example of ingenious packaging design. Its packaging materials are made from wood and intended for cosmetics products. They turn ecology into a luxury. Sulapac has a competitive edge because it can compete in terms of price with comparable packaging materials made from plastic, and the material can be mass produced with the same equipment as plastic.

PulPaper Conference will also deal with the use of forest biomass and the management of climate change. Speakers will address regulations related to the industry at the EU level and ponder the availability of biomass and related policies.

3D printing of biomaterials

The 3D Printing of Biomaterials seminar will also be held at PulPaper. When it comes to printing materials, the development of biomaterials opens up plenty of opportunities for new value-added uses of cellulose. 3D printing of biomaterials provides companies with a way to make cost-efficient customised products that save on materials and are environmentally sustainable. The seminar will present promising examples of cellulose-based insulation materials, for example.

Admission to the PulPaper exhibition is free of charge. To register for the paid programmes - PulPaper Conference, Business Forum and 3D Printing of Biomaterials – visit http://www.pulpaper.fi.