CENTRE TECHNIQUE DE L INDUSTRIE DESPAPIERS CARTONS ET CELLULOSES

Their core work

CTP (Centre Technique du Papier) is France's technical research centre for the paper, board, and cellulose industries, based near Grenoble. They develop advanced cellulose-based materials and processes — from microfibrillated celluloses to bio-based packaging solutions — bridging laboratory research with industrial-scale pilot production. Their work focuses on replacing petroleum-based plastics with recyclable and biodegradable cellulose alternatives for packaging, textiles, and automotive applications. They operate as an applied R&D hub serving the European pulp and paper value chain, with particular strength in scaling up bio-based material innovations.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015-2018), CTP worked across a broader range of cellulose science — fibre processing with deep eutectic solvents (PROVIDES), industrial water optimization (SPOTVIEW), and biodegradable packaging structures (SHERPACK). From 2019 onward, their focus sharpened decisively toward recyclable and compostable cellulose packaging materials, with CelluWiz developing specific processes like MFC wet lamination and chromatogeny at pilot scale, and BIONANOPOLYS expanding into nano-enabled bio-based composites for packaging, textiles, and automotive. The trajectory shows a clear move from general cellulose R&D toward industrial-ready sustainable packaging alternatives.

CTP is converging on scalable, plastic-replacing cellulose packaging — expect their next moves in compostable food-contact materials and nano-enabled bio-composites for non-packaging sectors like automotive and textiles.

How they like to work

CTP splits evenly between leading and joining projects (3 coordinated, 3 as participant), indicating they are comfortable in both roles and likely choose based on topic fit. With 80 unique partners across 18 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than relying on a fixed circle. Their participation in BBI-RIA (Bio-Based Industries) projects suggests strong ties to the bio-economy industrial ecosystem, connecting upstream pulp/paper producers with downstream packaging and consumer goods companies.

CTP has built a wide European network of 80 unique partners spanning 18 countries, reflecting the cross-border nature of the pulp, paper, and bio-based materials value chain. Their consortium-building reach is notably broad for a mid-sized technical centre, suggesting they are well-connected across both research and industry in the bio-economy.

What sets them apart

CTP occupies a rare position as an industry-owned technical centre dedicated entirely to paper, board, and cellulose — not a university lab or a private company, but a sector-specific applied research facility with direct industrial mandate. This means they can take lab innovations to pilot scale faster than most academic partners, and they understand commercial constraints better than pure research institutes. For any consortium needing cellulose or bio-based packaging expertise with a clear path to industrial implementation, CTP is one of very few organizations in Europe that can deliver both the science and the scale-up.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SPOTVIEW
  Their largest funded project (EUR 1.09M) and a coordinator role, tackling industrial water efficiency — showing leadership beyond their core packaging focus.
• CelluWiz
  Coordinated development of all-cellulose multilayer packaging using MFC and chromatogeny — represents their most focused and technically specific packaging innovation work.
• BIONANOPOLYS
  Their most recent and second-largest project (EUR 822K), extending cellulose expertise into nano-enabled materials across four application sectors — signals strategic diversification.