This presentation aims at giving an insight in how Borregaard, which used to be a traditional pulp and paper company, has become the worlds most advanced Biorefinery, both in terms of product portfolio and market development.

Borregaard has over the last 50 years evolved from a traditional pulp and paper company into a manufacturer of a wide range of specialty chemicals based on wood as a raw material. Today’s product portfolio consists of a wide range of specialty cellulose materials, lignin based performance chemicals, vanillin, yeast extracts and bio ethanol – all based on lignocellulose from different wood species.

A description of the running operations will be given, to provide an insight into the practicalities of operating a full scale Biorefinery where more than 95% of the biomass is converted into bio chemicals, bio materials, bio fuel and bio energy. Special attention will be given to value creation on the lignin component of the lignocellulose feedstock. Examples of recent product developments and investigations into new biomass sources will be given to illustrate the potential in the biomass, but also some of the challenges.

Product development from the lignocelluloses biomass requires a broad set of skills both in innovation and R&D, and this presentation will give an insight in our approach and some examples of new applications.