Bio-Based Materials

Finnfoam, Brightplus, VTT, and Nordic Soya have collaborated in examining the possibilities offered by soy molasses, which is produced as a side stream of soy processing, as a future raw material.

These four companies have worked together to develop the world’s first process where compostable bioplastic is produced using side streams from food and feed production. The four-year research project was partially funded by Business Finland.

A biopolymer plant for piloting the production of bioplastic on an industrial scale will be built in Uusikaupunki.

Photograph: Syrupy soy molasses left over from the processing of soy is now used as material for bioplastic.

MORE ECOLOGICAL INSULATION PRODUCTION WITH BIOPLASTICS

Thanks to an advanced research project, by-products that are unsuitable for food production can now be used to domestically manufacture responsible bio-based products that offer significant added value.

Finnfoam aims to use the new bioplastic material in the production of thermal insulation for buildings. The fact that the thermal insulation products will also function as carbon sinks, thus reducing the carbon footprint of buildings, increases their environmental friendliness even further.

FIRST LARGE-SCALE INVESTMENT BY FF-FUTURE

In order to pilot new biomaterial innovations, Finnfoam, Brightplus, VTT, and Nordic Soya are launching a pilot plant project in Uusikaupunki, next to Nordic Soya Oy’s soybean processing facility, which is the largest of its kind in Europe. According to the plans, a full-scale plant will become operational by the end of 2023.

In early 2021, Finnfoam Oy was split into two companies, one of which is FF-Future that focuses on solutions of the future. The pilot plant project being launched is the first large-scale investment by FF-Future.

“Finland is excellently positioned for becoming frontrunner in biomaterials, but this would require sufficient domestic resources for testing the scalability of the production process. We want to participate in the creation of concrete resources for the sector’s domestic ecosystem, and we are looking for operators, who are interested in building up Finnish biomaterial production and commercializing it for the global market”, says Finnfoam CEO Henri Nieminen, the architect of the project.

You can read the full press release here: Multipurpose Bioplastic From Soy Residues – Pilot Plant to Open in Uusikaupunki