LignEasy’s innovative technology is designed to reduce the carbon footprint associated with the pulping and chemical industries. Each year, over 15 million tons of lignin, a natural polymer that is one of the main constituents of wood, are burned by European kraft pulp mills for energy. Instead of burning this valuable resource, LignEasy’s patented technology separates lignin for use in high-value applications such as plywood, construction materials, bio-components in plastics and packaging, providing sustainable alternatives to fossil-based products.

 

In the plastics sector alone, achieving the net zero target by 2050 will require an annual production of 100-230 million tons of bioplastics, compared to the current global production of just 2 million tons. LignEasy’s technology is poised to play a crucial role in meeting this substantial demand for sustainable materials.

“We believe that LignEasy will play a significant role in decarbonising multiple industries, and we are delighted to welcome them into our portfolio. Their innovative approach to lignin separation not only addresses the significant wastage in kraft pulp mills but also opens up new avenues for sustainable bioproducts, transforming lignin from a waste product into a valuable resource,” commented Jonas Nordlund, Investment Manager at EIT InnoEnergy Scandinavia in a press release issued earlier today.

Juho-Matti Karpale, CEO at LignEasy added: “This investment marks a major milestone for our company and one that will help us to scale up our efforts to decarbonise the pulp and chemical industries. There are currently major issues with lignin wastage; a technology gap in achieving separation sustainably; and a pressing need to provide the chemical industry with eco-friendly alternatives to fossil-based raw materials. Our technology delivers solutions to these problems, and with access to EIT InnoEnergy’s ecosystem, we are now better placed than ever before to deliver them to the market.”

Unlike existing lignin separation systems that can cause harmful sulfate discharge to the environment, LignEasy uses a sulfuric-acid-free separation technology and a novel filtration-based purification method. This innovation produces high-value lignin, reduces pulp mill emissions, and provides the chemical industry with a renewable feedstock in the form of an odourless, bio-based raw material available as liquid concentrate or dried powder. The lignin is ready for direct use in several products or possible chemical modification for an even broader range of applications.