During FlexSNG’s trip to Canada, the team had the pleasure of a site visit to FPInnovations R&D laboratories. FPInnovations is a private not-for-profit organization that specializes in the creation of solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector’s global competitiveness.

During the site visit we were shown around the paper and pulp facilities and shown how FPInnovations is addressing industry challenges through research into competitiveness aspects of the mills through efficiency improvements, cost reduction initiatives and automation processes, as well as creating roadmaps towards reducing GHG emissions.

The part of tour most relevant to the FlexSNG team was hearing about and seeing the research carried out into ‘bio-sourced products’. FPInnovations are paving the way for new markets and incomes streams for the forest industry including low-carbon fuels through the byproduct of paper production: black-liquor, and also by creating bio-sourced chemicals and materials, such as absorbent fibres that can be used for medical purposes.