Home / Environment / BC Researchers Turn Forest Scraps into Foam
BC Researchers Turn Forest Scraps into Foam
20 Aug
Summary
- A pulpy alternative to plastic packaging foam uses logging waste.
- Wood foam is produced at a pilot plant in East Vancouver.
- Company DicinFoam is majority owned by a First Nation's business arm.
A groundbreaking pulpy alternative to plastic packaging foam, created from often-discarded logging waste, has been developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia. The innovation, named "wood foam," is currently being produced at a pilot plant in East Vancouver, with a daily capacity of up to 200 kilograms. This venture is spearheaded by DicinFoam, a company substantially owned by the business arm of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation.
The wood foam technology, pioneered in a UBC lab, transforms low-value pulp, wood fibers, and forestry residues into a viable substitute for polystyrene packaging foam. This material is derived from sources like logging waste and sawdust, addressing the issue of unused forest byproducts. DicinFoam aims to scale up production, with plans for a 1,000-tonne-per-year facility in Burns Lake on Wet'suwet'en territory and a subsequent 15,000-tonne facility on Vancouver Island.
Company leaders anticipate that wood foam will eventually be cost-competitive with its plastic counterparts. The initiative offers a sustainable solution to plastic pollution, particularly in Canadian shorelines and recreational areas. This project also provides training and employment opportunities, with members from the Huu-ay-aht First Nation involved in leading future sites.
