A low-carbon replacement for fossil fuels.
Lignin is the binder that holds the fibers of plants together and makes them strong and rigid. Throughout the Canadian forest sector, lignin has traditionally been treated as a low-quality, low-value byproduct. When extracted and processed, however, this abundant raw material can be used in a wide variety of applications to displace traditional fossil-based chemicals and products.
2010 – 2018
CRIBE provided funding support to FPInnovations to develop the Lignoforce technology.
Read the project pageThe Lignoforce technology is now commercially deployed in Canada.
2018
Nextfor launched a series of Innovation Forums on lignin. These forums were meant to identify opportunities to valorize lignin, supporting CRIBE’s investments in lignin extraction technologies.
Based on the opportunities and challenges identified in these forums, Nextfor published three Opportunity Roadmaps for lignin in Ontario.
2020 – 2021
Nextfor launched two funding challenges: the 2020 High-Performance Lignin Challenge, and the 2021 Accelerated Commercialization Trial: Lignin 2.0 As a result of these funding challenges, CRIBE is now funding several lignin-specific projects.
See Lignin Projects2023
Stay tuned for project updates!
Upcoming Lignin-Based Materials Events
Past Lignin-Based Materials Events
Lignin Consortium Symposium
November 30, 2022
9:00 am–3:30 pm
As a result of Nextfor’s 2021 and 2022 Lignin Funding Challenges, CRIBE is currently supporting 5 consortium-based projects, representing 29 national and international organizations. CRIBE...
Let’s Talk About Lignin
September 15, 2021
10:00 am–11:30 am
Lignin is an abundant raw material that can be extracted from wood, and has the potential to play a crucial role in Ontario’s bio-economy, and...