UBC Researchers Develop Wood-Based Alternative to Plastic Foam

Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have developed a new material made from wood fibers and forestry residues, designed as a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging foam. The innovation, dubbed "wood foam," utilizes low-value pulp and waste from the logging industry, addressing a significant source of potential pollution.

A pilot plant in East Vancouver is currently producing up to 200 kilograms of this wood foam daily. The company spearheading this initiative, DicinFoam, has a majority stake held by the business arm of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation. This venture aims to convert forestry waste, often left behind and contributing to wildfire risks, into a viable replacement for polystyrene foam.

The technology, co-patented by UBC and the Wet'suwet'en First Nation, was refined in a UBC lab and scaled up for commercial production. DicinFoam sources its raw materials from various forestry operations, including sawmills and recycled pulp, seeking to extract maximum value from materials that would otherwise go unused.

Company leaders highlight that a substantial portion of harvested trees is often unutilized. By repurposing this waste into products like wood foam, they aim to reduce reliance on plastics, which are frequently found as pollutants in Canadian ecosystems. The production process involves mixing the wood waste into a pulp, forming it into desired shapes using custom machinery, and then curing it in an oven.

Future expansion plans include a larger facility in Burns Lake, situated in Wet'suwet'en territory, with a projected annual output of 1,000 tonnes. A further scale-up to a 15,000-tonne facility on Vancouver Island is anticipated, with the ultimate goal of offering wood foam at the same price as conventional plastic foam. This initiative is seen as a significant step towards sustainable material alternatives and waste reduction.