SWEETWOODS · Project

Industrial Biorefinery Turning Wood Into High-Value Lignin and Sugar Products

manufacturingPilotedTRL 8

Imagine taking a log of hardwood and squeezing out almost everything useful from it — like getting juice, pulp, and zest from an orange, wasting almost nothing. SWEETWOODS built a full-scale factory that breaks wood down into pure lignin (a natural glue-like substance) and sugars, then turns those into insulation foams, plastic replacements, and sweeteners like xylitol. The plant processes 80 bone-dry tons of wood per day, using at least 95% of the carbon in the original wood. It's basically turning trees into the same products we currently make from oil.

By the numbers

80 bdton/day

Biorefinery throughput capacity

95%

Minimum carbon content utilization from feedstock

TRL 7 → 9

Technology readiness level progression target

9 partners

Industry consortium size across 7 countries

5 end products

Demonstrated applications (foams, polymers, bio-IBN, xylitol)

The business problem

What needed solving

European manufacturers of insulation foams, plastics, and sweeteners are under growing pressure to replace petroleum-based raw materials with sustainable alternatives — but bio-based feedstocks are often too expensive, too impure, or available only at lab scale. At the same time, the wood processing industry underutilizes most of what a tree contains, wasting valuable fractions that could become high-value products.

The solution

What was built

An industrial-scale biorefinery with 80 bdton/day capacity that fractionates hardwood into high purity lignin and C5/C6 sugars. Five end products were demonstrated: elastomer foams and rigid polyurethane foam panels for insulation, polymer compounds for injection moulding, bio-IBN, and xylitol.

Audience

Who needs this

Insulation manufacturers looking for bio-based polyurethane foam alternativesPolymer compounders seeking sustainable feedstock for injection mouldingXylitol and specialty sweetener producers wanting new sugar sourcesChemical companies producing isobutyronitrile (IBN) from fossil feedstockPulp and paper companies looking to valorize wood waste streams

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Building Insulation

mid-size

Target: Insulation material manufacturers

If you are an insulation manufacturer looking to replace petroleum-based raw materials — this project demonstrated rigid polyurethane foam panels and elastomer foams for tube insulation made from wood-derived lignin. The biorefinery processes 80 bdton/day of hardwood, producing lignin suitable for direct use in your existing foam production lines. This gives you a bio-based product line without building your own fractionation plant.

Plastics & Polymer Compounding

mid-size

Target: Injection moulding and polymer compound producers

If you are a polymer compounder struggling with fossil-feedstock price volatility and customer demand for bio-based materials — SWEETWOODS produced polymer compounds from wood-derived lignin intended for injection moulding. The fractionation technology started at TRL 7 and targeted TRL 9 by project end. With 9 industry partners across 7 countries already in the consortium, supply chain validation is built in.

Food Ingredients & Sweeteners

any

Target: Xylitol and specialty sugar producers

If you are a sweetener or food ingredient company dependent on expensive or limited sugar sources — this project demonstrated production of high purity glucose, xylose, and fructose from hardwood, including conversion to xylitol. The biorefinery uses enzymatic solutions to extract sugars while utilizing at least 95% of the wood's carbon content. This could diversify your raw material base away from corn or birch bark.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access this lignin or sugar supply?

The project does not publish specific product pricing. However, the biorefinery was designed for industrial-scale operation at 80 bdton/day throughput, which typically drives unit costs down significantly compared to lab-scale production. Contact the coordinator for current pricing and offtake terms.

Is this technology ready for industrial-scale production?

Yes. The fractionation technology started at TRL 7 (system prototype demonstrated in operational environment) and the project aimed to reach TRL 9 (actual system proven in operational environment) by its end in 2024. The plant was designed for 80 bdton/day throughput, which is full industrial scale. This was an Innovation Action specifically focused on demonstration.

How is intellectual property handled — can I license this technology?

IP arrangements are governed by the consortium agreement among the 9 industry partners. Since all partners are industrial companies (7 of them SMEs), the consortium was structured for commercial exploitation. Contact the coordinator FIBENOL IMAVERE OU in Estonia to discuss licensing or partnership options.

What raw materials does the biorefinery use?

The plant uses hardwood as its sole biomass feedstock. It fractionates the wood into lignin, C5 sugars (like xylose), and C6 sugars (like glucose and fructose) using enzymatic solutions. At least 95% of the initial carbon content is utilized, meaning virtually no waste.

What end products have actually been demonstrated?

Five product applications were demonstrated: elastomer foams for tube insulation, rigid polyurethane foam panels for insulation, polymer compounds for injection moulding, bio-IBN (isobutyronitrile), and xylitol. These cover construction, plastics, and food ingredient markets.

Does this meet environmental regulations for bio-based products?

The project performed a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) and viability analysis covering environmental and socio-economic performance. With 95% carbon utilization from biomass feedstock, the products have a strong bio-based credentials story. Specific certification details should be requested from the coordinator.

Consortium

Who built it

The SWEETWOODS consortium is unusually strong for commercialization: all 9 partners are industrial companies (100% industry ratio), with 7 of them being SMEs, spread across 7 European countries (Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Sweden). There are zero universities or research organizations — this was built entirely by companies that need to sell products to survive. The coordinator, FIBENOL IMAVERE OÜ from Estonia, is a private company focused on biomass fractionation. This consortium structure signals serious commercial intent rather than an academic exercise.

FIBENOL IMAVERE OUCoordinator · EE
SPINVERSE ABthirdparty · SE
TECNARO GESELLSCHAFT ZUR INDUSTRIELLEN ANWENDUNG NACHWACHSENDER ROHSTOFFE MBHparticipant · DE
GLOBAL BIOENERGIES GMBHthirdparty · DE
METGEN OYparticipant · FI
SPINVERSE OYparticipant · FI
2B Srlparticipant · IT
RECTICEL SAparticipant · BE
GLOBAL BIOENERGIESparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

FIBENOL IMAVERE OÜ (Estonia) — contact via SciTransfer for a warm introduction to the right person

Order a report on this consortium See FIBENOL IMAVERE OU profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore lignin-based materials or bio-based sugars from this project? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the consortium partners who match your needs. We handle the introduction so you skip the cold outreach.

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