Ecolicel: an ambitious project for a “green chemistry” sector from wood, abundant in Lorraine

ECOLICEL is a major project of the Fibers Competitiveness Cluster whose objective is to organize a wood-based chemistry sector in the regions of Lorraine and Alsace.

The context is as follows: to meet the demand for 100% green materials expressed by industry and markets, wood is emerging as a new “green” and bio-sourced chemistry well.

Through the ECOLICEL project, the Fibers Competitiveness Pole is promoting the very important, well-managed and regularly growing natural resource of wood, which is growing steadily in our region.

On the other hand, the paper industry Lorraine (the largest in France) knows how to turn wood into pulp which is then easy to extract the cellulose and the different molecules that will feed the chemical industry.

Assisted by research(Public research in the field of organic chemistry and wood-based chemistry is the number one in the country), the chemical industry will benefit from supplies of extracts that are both important in quantity, varied and of high quality. These extracts will allow the development of treatments and renewable materials such as adhesives, green resins, and adhesives, new fibers …

This initiative, which includes major research centers through the CNRS, INRA, and universities Lorraine, is supported by the industry: SNF, EGGER, LOHR, NORSKE SKOG, GEORGIA PACIFIC, AHLSTROM, ALBANY INTERNATIONAL, SOPREMA, UPM …