In collaboration with UK based James Cropper PLC, the speciality paper and advanced materials group, Södra is taking the first commercial step into the international market for bio-composite material DuraPulp.
The collaboration brings together the respective core competences of each organisation and the creation of cross-functional expert teams with the aim to develop DuraPulp solutions for a wide potential range of applications.
"James Cropper's extensive technical competence and global market reach will mean that we will be able to speed up the commercialisation of DuraPulp," said Anna Altner, Södra's Project Manager for DuraPulp.
"Initially, the collaboration will involve niche and high end packaging related applications but we do see wide potential opportunities, including the horticulture market," explained Jacqueline Redman, Strategic Marketing and Innovation Manager at James Cropper.
James Cropper plc has 2 business divisions - the paper division includes the speciality and luxury paper manufacturing and converting business and the non-woven division, Technical Fibre Products which has a holds a niche and leading position in the aerospace, energy, medical, automotive and other sectors.
James Cropper Speciality Papers is one of the world's leading producers of bespoke coloured paper; in the last six months alone it has won two awards for innovative sustainable luxury packaging, most recently in Shanghai.
"We will be exploring these markets to establish if our unique product can offer useful solutions," noted Urban Blomster, Business Development Manager for DuraPulp.
Södra is already involved in technical collaboration with Swt Paper, a privately-owned business development company in Varberg specialising in bespoke paper and cardboard products. This collaboration is making it possible to produce wet-formed DuraPulp demonstrators that showcase the material's potential in bespoke packaging and containers.
DuraPulp is a bio-composite material that consists of specially-selected pulp from Södra Cell and a renewable biopolymer. After additional processing, these two components take on special properties, such as moisture resistance, strength and rigidity.
James Cropper PLC is an advanced materials group with more than 500 employees and turnover in the region of 80 million GBP.