Technological watch
Project topic informationEIT InnoEnergy Invests in Bio-based Materials Start-up LignEasy
© LignEasyInnoEnergy is pleased to announce a €1m investment into bio-based materials pioneer, LignEasy. Specialising in lignin separation technology, LignEasy aims to curb carbon emissions in the pulp industry and replace fossil-based raw materials with the forest-based feedstock.
Accelerating LignEasy’s Scale-Up EffortsThe investment and incorporation of LignEasy into InnoEnergy’s portfolio will provide significant scale-up opportunities for the start-up’s sustainable alternative to traditional practices in kraft pulp mills. This funding will build on the EIC Accelerator grant previously received by the company, enabling the full development of their pilot plant, which is set to reach a production capacity of 1 ton/day later this autumn.
Innovating for Sustainable Material SolutionsLignEasy’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.
Addressing the Environmental Imperative“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.
Empowering Growth and Market ExpansionJuho-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.”
LignEasy’s Competitive EdgeUnlike 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.
Accelerating LignEasy’s Scale-Up EffortsThe investment and incorporation of LignEasy into InnoEnergy’s portfolio will provide significant scale-up opportunities for the start-up’s sustainable alternative to traditional practices in kraft pulp mills. This funding will build on the EIC Accelerator grant previously received by the company, enabling the full development of their pilot plant, which is set to reach a production capacity of 1 ton/day later this autumn.
Innovating for Sustainable Material SolutionsLignEasy’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.
Addressing the Environmental Imperative“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.
Empowering Growth and Market ExpansionJuho-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.”
LignEasy’s Competitive EdgeUnlike 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.