Essity joins EU project for bio-based absorbents
In Mexico, Mexico Business News reported that Essity, a global hygiene and health company with operations in Mexico, has joined PROTEUS, a European flagship project backed by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), to develop a new generation of bio-based superabsorbents derived from sustainably harvested brown macroalgae.
Superabsorbents are critical components in baby diapers, feminine care and incontinence products, enabling the effective absorption of urine and menstrual blood. These materials are currently produced mainly from fossil-based plastics. Through PROTEUS, Essity is evaluating raw materials derived from Laminaria hyperborea, an underutilized European brown macroalgae, as a renewable alternative for absorbent hygiene and medical products, according to the report.
The report noted that the initiative aims to establish the world’s first fully integrated industrial-scale biorefinery dedicated to brown macroalgae. Coordinated by Norway-based Alginor ASA, the project brings together 11 European organizations to unlock the full potential of Laminaria hyperborea across value chains including personal care, food, animal feed and industrial applications.
Using formaldehyde-free harvesting and extraction technology, PROTEUS seeks to increase biomass utilization from the roughly 15% currently used by the industry to nearly the entire algae resource.
Category: Fuels
