OrganoClick’s R&D Director Maria Wennman is defending and presenting her doctoral thesis on biobased binders based on shrimp shells and cellulose that replace plastic binders in nonwoven textiles
More than 12 million tons of plastic are released into the oceans every year. Some of the most common plastic waste is made from nonwoven textiles found in, for example, wet wipes and baby diapers. Based on more than 15 years of research and development, OrganoClick has developed biobased and biodegradable binders based on e.g. shrimp shells and cellulose that can replace plastic binders in these materials. The research behind the technologies is now presented in a doctoral thesis by OrganoClick’s R&D manager Maria Wennman via a collaboration with KTH – The Royal Institute of Technology with the title “Biobased and biodegradable binders for paper and nonwoven”. The biobased binders have also been implemented in several industrial applications and replaced more than 2,000 tons of plastic in 2023!
Nonwoven textiles often consist of a mixture of cellulose fibers and fossil non-degradable plastic binders. These materials cannot be broken down in nature, nor can they be composted or recycled. To solve this problem, OrganoClick, through many years of research and development, has developed biobased and compostable binders that can replace plastic binders in a number of different applications such as napkins, diapers, feminine hygiene products, agricultural textiles and wet wipes.
OrganoClick’s patented binders are based on natural biopolymers from side streams in the food industry, such as shrimp peels, orange peels and oat husks, which are mostly incinerated or landfilled. Thereby, 100% biobased and compostable nonwoven textiles can be manufactured, which have now been implemented in large-scale industrial production of products such as napkins, agricultural textiles and hygiene products.
“One of the most satisfying things about my work in the lab is that it has resulted in major environmental gains when we are now phasing out fossil plastics on a 1,000-ton scale. For me, it feels very important to contribute to a cleaner and greener future. That my research and my ideas have led to a doctoral thesis is a huge bonus and I am incredibly happy and grateful for the chance to do my dissertation in this important field.” says Maria Wennman, Director of Research and Development at OrganoClick
“After more than 15 years of research and development, I am incredibly proud that we have succeeded in developing biobased and biodegradable binders that now replace plastic binders in nonwovens. I am also very proud of Maria’s hard work, which she now gets to crown with a doctoral thesis”, says Mårten Hellberg, CEO OrganoClick
Kontakt:Maria Wennman, FoU-chef OrganoClick maria.wennman@organoclick.com, +46 (0)76883 86 75
Mårten Hellberg, VD OrganoClick, marten.hellberg@organoclick.com, +46 (0)7 07 16 48 90
