Resolute’s cellulose filament plant is nearly complete

Resolute is currently focussed on bringing commercial volumes of cellulose filaments to the marketplace.

The company’s new cellulose filaments plant at its Kénogami paper mill in Saguenay, Que., is near completion. It is working closely with key partners Performance BioFilaments and FPInnovations to commercialize a translucent film made of cellulose filaments (CF). The plant has the support of the ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts du Québec Wood Innovation Program for this project.

Resolute notes in a press statement that this product could potentially replace clear plastic films used in a number of everyday applications, notably in store packaging of fresh foods. For example, explains the company, the plastic window on a typical premium bread bag can be replaced with the new CF-based film. This would represent a 100 per cent bio-sourced package that can be easily disposed of through a single-stream recycling collection system or a typical municipal composting infrastructure. This product offers a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics in a range of applications.

For an industry that typically produces opaque printing paper, the development of a see-through product was no small challenge, says Resolute. With the help of Innofibre and support of FPInnovations, Resolute has successfully produced pilot quantities of CF film. Rolls produced during multiple trials have been successfully used in converting on commercial bag lines with potential customers, says the company. Resolute and Performance BioFilaments are now working with manufacturers of these films.

“Bio-based translucent film is another example of what our cellulose filament product platform can lead to. Improving the sustainability profile of packaging products is an exciting challenge, and we believe that we can be part of the solution,” said Alain Bourdages, vice-president, innovation and energy. “This development shows that wood-based products have a clear future.”