Tall oil rosin could be the future green additive in polymers
2025-11-14
The aim is to develop tall oil rosin into a bio-based additive that can function as a plasticiser, flame retardant, or anti-ageing agent in polymer products.
“Sweden has an abundant supply of pine forest – 40 per cent of the country’s productive forest land consists of pine, amounting to 9.5 million hectares. Pine contains a wide range of valuable substances, both macromolecular compounds such as cellulose and lignin, and smaller molecules like terpenoids and phenolic compounds. Through biorefining, these substances can be extracted and used for more than just timber – for example, to produce bio-based chemicals, materials and energy,” explained Juliana Aristéia de Lima, Associate Professor at the Department of Resource Recovery and Building Technology at the University of Borås and Senior Researcher at RISE, who is leading the project.
From by-product to valuable resource
Tall oil rosin is an example of how residual streams from the forest industry can be revitalised. By converting what was previously considered waste into useful plastic additives, both resource efficiency and the value of forest raw materials can be increased. The project runs until spring 2027 and aims to elevate tall oil rosin within the bio-based value chain.
Social science foundation for sustainable innovation
“To succeed, technical development alone is not enough – the project also includes analyses of digital, cross-sectoral and regulatory factors that influence innovation. By combining natural sciences with social sciences, we create the conditions for ethical, efficient and long-term sustainable use of bio-based plastics – both in Sweden and globally,” said Juliana Aristéia de Lima.
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The project runs until April 2027 and is funded by Formas – the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning.
Solveig Klug
Adobestock