Nanocellulose - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics

The global market for Nanocelluloseis projected to reach US$849.4 million by 2025, driven byits high environmental performance index and wide ranging applications as a multi-purpose biomaterial. Derived from natural plant fibers, nanocellulose is commercially processable and is renewable. It combines the properties of cellulose and nanoscale materials and is the building block for developing several types of materials. Among the many uses include nanocellulose as a replacement for Styrofoam for insulation; its addition to high-fat food can reduce fat digestion and absorption; and its use to reinforce polymers, paper and membranes. Nanocellulose is also an important nanofiller vital in the development of bionanocomposites. Environmental concerns and stringent regulations on emissions have always weighed down upon all industries, particularly manufacturing. Additionally, global warming, growing environmental awareness, energy resource depletion, increasing oil prices, and stringent governmental policies, drive to reduce carbon footprint and landfill use. Growing consumer awareness and demand for green products are driving a shift towards environmentally friendly technologies. Against a backdrop where every industry is buckling under the pressure of environmental regulations and conformance to adopt ecologically safe practices, the green benefits offered by eco-friendly materials, such as nanocellulose, are poised to gain attention. Incorporating nanocellulose into products not only increases the green quotient, but also allows recyclability by lowering the impact of disposing the product. Since nanocellulose is recyclable, compostable, offers carbon sequestration, and do not pose any health or environmental hazard, the material has the ability to comply with the required green quotient for industries to demonstrate eco-friendly and socially responsible practices.

Nanotechnology is regarded vital to promoting nanocellulose applications as it offers various techniques such as catalysis, thermo-conversion and bio-conversion tree cell-wall structures to obtain nanocellulose. The expanding market for nanocoatings is expected to emerge into a lucrative niche for nanocellulose. Global nanocoatings market over the next few years will be driven by soaring demand in automotive, electronics and medical devices. Nanomaterials such as nanocellulose used in coatings and films are specifically nanoengineered to offer superior benefits, such as, photocatalytic features, UV-reflectance, abrasion resistance, and intumescent properties, among others. Nanocellulose-based biodegradable plant biomaterial can be used as nanocoating in medical, bioengineering, biomedical, and cosmetics products. Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF), also called Nanofibrillar Cellulose (NFC), is being explored in a wide range of applications by both industry and academia owing to its various chemical, mechanical, and physical properties.

The surface characteristics of CNF allow the fibrils in nanocellulose to bind with large quantities of water present within the fibril network, creating a hydrogel. This allows the biomaterial to be used as a rheological modifier and in wound dressing. Despite the challenge of the material in producing solid structures owing to its high water content, the biomaterial is being explored for application in transparent films.

Competitors identified in this market include, among others:

• Axcelon Biopolymers Corporation
• Borregaard ASA
• CelluForce, Inc.
• Daicel FineChem Ltd.
• Fpinnovations
• FiberLean® Technologies Ltd.
• GranBio Investimentos S. A.
• Kruger, Inc.
• Melodea Ltd.
• Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
• Oji Holdings Corporation
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB
• Sappi Ltd
• Stora Enso Oyj
• UPM-Kymmene Oyj.