BIOINNOVATION STRATEGIC AGENDA 1
- 3 - Photo: Oskar Omne Li Yang, RISE At the same
time, there is a significant awareness among brand owners, producers and consumers. For many, the conversion work has already begun. More resource-efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, new fibres and textile concepts, new business models, designs and systems for a circular economy are needed, in order to actually reach the global sustainability goals by 2030. In the field of bio-based and circular textiles, the development of new types of fibres and their recycling is an important area of focus. In 2017, over 90 million tonnes of textile fibres were produced worldwide, of which about 25 percent was cotton, and just under 10 percent was cellulose from forest raw materials. In other words, fossil-based fibres dominate, representing just over 60 per cent of today’s market, and the most extensive growth takes place here – this is a trend that must be broken. Textiles based on cellulose – that is, natural fibres that are regenerated or otherwise processed into textiles – have enormous potential in a variety of applications in both technical textiles and in fashion and design. The fibres can be made strong, and just like cotton for example, users experience the cellulose-based textiles made from forest raw materials as a material that breathes, and absorbs moisture. Much research and development is currently underway, aimed at developing more sustainable manufacturing processes for cellulose-based textiles, and also processes for their recycling. The demand for traceable and durable manufactured cellulose fibres, with selectable properties, is constantly increasing. BIOCOMPOSITES Composite materials are used in a variety of industries today, where there is an absolute requirement for light, strong, environmentally resistant components. Composites can be described as a combination of several materials which together form a construction material with new properties. As composites become ever more popular in a number of sectors, the demand for sustainable alternatives also increases. This means that there is a clear advantage for biocomposites where at least one of the constituents is bio-based. Biocomposite sales are also increasing year on year, in part due to stricter regulatory requirements for environmentally friendly products, increased safety demands, and recyclability requirements.9 There are very good opportunities for optimising bio-based materials for the production of biocomposites in large volumes, and at low cost. Some examples are bio-based thermoplastics, the use of traditional plastic processing such as injection molding, or new additive techniques such as 3D printing. In the transport sector, for example, the need for lightweight construction is growing at a pace, as the vehicle fleet becomes more energy-efficient and electrified. Here, existing technologies can be used to develop lightweight structures using biocomposites. Bio-based materials can also play an important role in large-scale solutions for the rapid storage and delivery of energy. There are also good opportunities for the development of bio-based solutions to supplement and replace today's batteries, which are expensive and also contain heavy metals or rare earth metals. 11