---

15 October 20249 October 2024

Braskem Collaborates with the University of British Columbia to Develop Technology for Producing Methanol from CO2

The company is funding a one-year project aimed at developing a viable technological route for future industrial implementation

---

3 September 20242 September 2024

UBC super-black wood can improve telescopes, optical devices and consumer goods

By sheer accident, UBC researchers created a new super-black material that absorbs almost all light and trademarked it as Nxylon

---

8 May 20243 May 2024

Suzano Ventures invests up to US$5 million into Bioform Technologies to further develop bio-based plastic alternatives

Bioform’s proprietary technology rapidly produces wood pulp-reinforced hydrogels to create high-performance plastic alternatives, which can be made using Suzano’s wood pulp fibre as a key input

---

Suzano Ventures investiert bis zu 5 Millionen US-Dollar in Bioform Technologies, um biobasierte Kunststoffalternativen weiter zu entwickeln

Die firmeneigene Technologie von Bioform ermöglicht die rasche Herstellung von holzzellstoffverstärkten Hydrogelen zur Herstellung von Hochleistungs-Kunststoffalternativen, die unter Verwendung der Zellstofffasern von Suzano als Hauptbestandteil hergestellt werden könne

---

12 May 20239 May 2023

ALUULA: OFF-CUTS, TRANSFORMED

In a new project, ALUULA material off-cuts and end-of-life products were compressed into uniform, lightweight and ultra-durable panels

---

9 November 20224 November 2022

UBC scientist discovers way to make strong plastic alternative from grass crops

Grasstic is made from the stalks of grass crops such as wheat or corn and can be used for dry goods packaging

---

8 November 20222 November 2022

UBC researcher creates wood-based alternative to single-use plastic

The film can be made into coffee bags or chip bags, pouches like pouches for cereal or frozen fruit, or protective wrap like bubble wrap or envelopes

---

Chemists uncover cracks in the armour of cellulose nanocrystals

The most detailed look yet at the surface chemistry and structure of individual cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) particles

---

Chemiker entdecken Risse in der Oberflächenstruktur von Cellulose-Nanokristallen

Der bisher detaillierteste Blick auf die Oberflächenchemie und Struktur einzelner Zellulose-Nanokristallpartikel

---

8 August 20221 August 2022

Waste wood chemically recycled to produce material stronger than steel

A treatment process can turn old pieces of wood into a new super-strong material called "healed wood"

---

6 May 20224 May 2022

UBC spin-off companies win $2 million in competition for carbon removal technology funded by the Musk Foundation

In this Q&A, two of Carbin Minerals’ founders, Dr. Greg Dipple and Bethany Ladd, discuss what the future holds for the company

---

31 March 202225 March 2022

UBCO researchers use unique ingredient to strengthen bamboo

Once used to preserve bodies, plastination now strengthens biocomposites

---

19 November 202112 November 2021

Solarzellen und Glas aus Holz – oder einer Milliarde Tonnen Bioabfall

Aalto Universitäts-Forscher zeigen, wie pflanzliche Biomasse in optischen Anwendungen nicht erneuerbare Ressourcen ersetzen könnte

---

Creating solar cells and glass from wood – or a billion tons of biowaste

Aalto University researchers map out how biomass from plants could replace unrenewable resources in optical applications

---

2 March 202125 February 2021

NEXE Developing Compostable Single-Use Facemasks

Company has developed initial prototypes and will create a fully compostable disposable facemask that meets international healthcare standards in the coming months

---

1 March 202125 February 2021

„Lebende Plastikkugel“: FH-Absolvent entwickelt nachhaltigen Biokunststoff

Biotechnologe modifizierte Cyanobakterien derart, dass sie zu 80% aus Biokunststoff bestehen - und vielversprechende Anwendungsfelder eröffnen

---

10 February 20215 February 2021

Developing fibrillated cellulose as a sustainable technological material

Fibrillated cellulose is produced from renewable resources, so its sustainability potential combined with its other functional properties makes this nanomaterial insteresting

---

18 September 20209 September 2021

Future design: What ‘living’ clothes can do to absorb carbon emissions

Fashion is one of the world's most polluting industries

---

15 June 202012 June 2020

UBC researchers develop biodegradable medical mask for COVID-19

Made in Canada design uses local wood fibres and can be produced in B.C.

---

4 March 20202 March 2020

The combination of plant-based particles and water forms an ‘eco’ super-glue

Researchers demonstrated that plant-derived cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can form an adhesive that fully integrates the concepts of sustainability, performance, and cost

---

6 February 20203 February 2020

Crab-shell and seaweed compounds spin into yarns for sustainable and functional materials

Research team sees great potential for the material to be used for such things as threads for surgical procedures, webs for internal tissue engineering and more

---

5 September 20199 September 2021

Converting waste gas into high value flavours and fragrances

Collaboration of researchers to establish a unique manufacturing facility and biosynthetic platform to produce a range of specialty chemicals

---

19 August 201912 August 2019

How plants synthesise salicylic acid

International research team lead by Göttingen University discovers mechanism for biosynthesis of salicylic acid

---

Forscher lösen Rätsel um Salizylsäure-Synthese in Pflanzen

Team unter Leitung der Universität Göttingen entschlüsselt Mechanismus zum Entstehen des Stresshormons

---

5 August 201931 July 2019

Could genomics turn pulp’s ‘black liquor’ into consumer goods

UBC research designed to turn ‘black liquor’—a by-product of pulp and paper manufacture—into consumer goods has received funding from Genome BC and the BC Pulp and Paper Bio-Alliance

---

27 March 201925 March 2019

From foam to bone: Plant cellulose can pave the way for healthy bone implants

It’s made by treating nanocrystals derived from plant cellulose so that they link up and form a strong but lightweight sponge

---

30 August 201827 August 2018

Expert View: Growing the Irish forest bio-economy

Clean energy project for Ireland’s transport sector to provide a template for the rest of Europe

---

24 August 201822 August 2018

Trending: New Spins on Wood, Hemp, Coconut Recognized as Winning Natural Fibers

Vegan wool alternative made from hemp and coconut fibers earned the PETA Prize for Animal-Free Wool in the 2018 Biodesign Challenge

---

1 August 201830 July 2018

Hoffnung für sonnenschwache Regionen – Forscher entwickeln effiziente Bakterien-Solarzelle

Kanadische Wissenschaftler melden große Fortschritte in der Entwicklung biogener Solarzellen mit Hilfe von genetisch veränderten E.-Coli-Bakterien

---

25 July 201823 July 2018

Sunny outlook for solar energy with “biogenic”, bacteria-powered cells

“These hybrid materials can be manufactured economically and sustainably and could perform at comparable efficiencies as conventional solar cells.”

---

11 July 20186 July 2018

Bacteria-powered solar cell converts light to energy, even under overcast skies

UBC researchers have found a cheap, sustainable way to build a solar cell using bacteria that convert light to energy

---

23 January 201823 January 2018

New research finds that mould can infiltrate and weaken bio-composite materials

Multi-disciplinary team of researchers have been studying the development and application of bio-sourced composites - specifically flax and hemp fibres

---

3 October 201726 October 2017

Federal government seeking partner to look at way to create domestic jet biofuel industry

The government signed an international agreement to make the airline industry carbon-neutral by 2020 and biofuels are currently the only way to meet that target

---

30 November 201527 November 2015

18 Story Vancouver Dorm Among World’s Tallest Wood Buildings

Tall wood projects gaining traction in North America as a safe, sustainable and cost-effective construction option

---

19 October 201514 October 2015

Researchers create inside-out plants to watch how cellulose forms

Researchers have been able to watch the interior cells of a plant synthesize cellulose for the first time by tricking the cells into growing on the plant’s surface

---

29 May 201528 May 2015

The skyscrapers of the future will be made of wood

Simple demographics indicate the scale of how to create towns and cities of the future

---

21 April 201520 April 2015

Canada’s growing biobased economy to be showcased at the 2015 BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology in Montreal

Brent Erickson: “We look forward to bringing BIO’s World Congress back to Montreal, where Canadian and American industrial biotechnology companies have formed strong partnerships over the years.”

---

21 August 201420 August 2014

Bamboo sprouts up in the concrete jungle

Researchers want to see city skylines filled with buildings made of bamboo

---

11 July 201410 July 2014

‘Microbe sniffer’ could point the way to next-generation bio-refining

Innovative biosensor to screen DNA from environmental samples and isolate the lignin-busting genetic machinery

---

9 April 20147 April 2014

Michigan State University: ‘Unzipping’ poplars’ biofuel potential

Research shows a much more energy- and cost-efficient way to convert biomass into fuel

---

8 April 20146 April 2014

Researchers design trees that make it easier to produce pulp

UBC researchers to modify lignin in wood, making it easier to break down

---

18 March 2013

Auburn researcher receives National Science Foundation CAREER award to study biofuels

Five-year project to improve efficiency in biorefining process for butanol production from biomass

---

17 January 2013

Texas researcher looks into biodiesel production from lignin

Scientist's team project was recently awarded $2.4 million by the U.S. DOE

---

3 January 2013

Energy Department Awards $10 Million to Develop Advanced Biofuels and Bio-based Products

Financial support for five projects with innovative synthetic chemical and biological technologies for converting biomass into sugar

---

22 November 201118 January 2018

Solegear Secures Research Partnerships With Top Canadian Universities

Company to to work closely with chemical and biological engineering departments to alter thermal and other properties of bioplastics

---

26 February 2010

Gasification pilot and innovative wood products at the University of British Columbia

Nexterra gasification CHP system to demo at UBC