PROBLEM
Plastic materials and toxic chemical substances are polluting our land, water and air.
SOLUTION
This innovation enables greater use of renewable, cellulose-based materials such as wood, paper and textiles, giving them new properties such as water repellence and improved durability.
MAKING FIBERS SMARTER
The OrganoClick® technology modifies cellulose- based materials by imitating nature’s own chemical processes. New green materials are being produced by attaching functional substances to bio-fibers, using small organic molecules as chemical catalysts. Appli- cations include OrganoTexTM, a water-resistant textile which has been developed by mimicking the ‘lotus effect’ (a natural purification mechanism). Another example is OrganoWoodTM which is a new means of protecting wood against fungal decay and fire by imi- tating the natural fossilization process. Many more applications are under development, including durable packaging materials and bio-composites, where na- ture’s own chemistry is the inspirational tool.
