LignEasy Celebrates Major Milestones in Process and Product Development in 2024
20 December 2024
2024 has been a transformative year for LignEasy Oy, marked by significant achievements that have strengthened its position in the bioeconomy sector. From attracting the attention of major players in the pulp and paper industry to securing key funding and reaching major technical milestones, LignEasy has taken major strides in both process and product development.
Process Development: Surpassing Expectations at LignoCity
At LignoCity, the Swedish lignin development hub operated by RISE, LignEasy made remarkable progress in advancing its patented lignin recovery technology. Working in close collaboration with local stakeholders, the team successfully commissioned its pilot unit, a key step under the European Innovation Council (EIC) project.
One of the most significant achievements was exceeding the initial production target by reaching a stable output of over 1 ton/day. This milestone not only demonstrates the scalability and robustness of the process but also lays the groundwork for the next scale-up phase planned for 2025.
“This milestone is significant as we’ve not only exceeded our target but also have substantial capacity reserved for future scale-ups. Our R&D work has identified parameters that enhance energy efficiency while maintaining high performance and product quality. These promising results suggest a positive outlook for the future development and economic prospects of our process,” said Topias Anttila, CTO at LignEasy.
Product Development: Validating the Versatility of Lignin
In parallel, LignEasy made major progress in product development by successfully validating the use of its lignin in several end-use applications. These validations highlight lignin’s broad industrial applicability and its growing role in replacing fossil-based raw materials.
Phenolic Resins
In collaboration with industrial partners, LignEasy demonstrated that its lignin can replace up to 50% of fossil-based phenol in phenol-formaldehyde resins without compromising performance. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results show that this substitution can reduce the carbon footprint of the final resin by 28%, making a direct contribution to decarbonization targets.
Bioplastics
Working with specialized bioplastics companies, LignEasy validated its lignin as a viable feedstock for producing low-carbon footprint bioplastics, offering a renewable and sustainable alternative to traditional plastic materials.
Polyurethane Foams
In partnership with key industry stakeholders, LignEasy also demonstrated the successful use of its lignin as a replacement for fossil-based polyols in polyurethane foams. A 30% substitution resulted in an 11% reduction in CO₂ emissions, marking another step toward greener, more sustainable materials.
Looking Ahead
With 2024 marking a year of both technological and commercial success, LignEasy is well-positioned for future growth. The company is already planning additional scale-up phases to meet the rising global demand for sustainable lignin solutions.
“Over the past couple of years, we’ve secured funding to validate our future-proof lignin technology in an industrially relevant environment and have successfully developed proven end-use applications,” said Juho-Matti Karpale, LignEasy’s CEO.
“LignEasy is now on the verge of commercialising both its technology for pulp mills and its lignin-based products for downstream applications.”