Our
story
Lignolix was started in 2019 after years of research at the University of Delaware. We found a new way to chemically break down lignin without the dangerous and expensive conditions historically used.
Why is lignin
considered waste?
Although lignin is one of the most abundant sustainable materials in the world, it is mostly burned or put in landfills. Commercially produced lignin from pulp mills usually have the following issues: dark color, strong odor, poor processability.
Our proprietary process takes lignin and chops it into smaller pieces that retain functional benefits while reducing issues like poor processability.
What is
Upcycled?
Upcycling is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products perceived to be of greater quality. At Lignolix, we believe waste is only waste if it’s wasted. While we can take plant waste from any source and upcycle it into valuable chemicals, our current sources include by-products from pulp and paper mills, beer brewing and food waste. As a result of being upcycled, products made from Lignolix ingredients have lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced water consumption and less petroleum to develop the same, or often superior, end products all while diverting waste streams. Through upcycling, we make the unusable, usable.
There is an estimated 133 billion pounds of food waste generated every year accounting for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions
Lignin-rich waste from pulp and paper mills alone is generated in excess of 100 million tons annually.
Our process allows us to upcycle waste from various sources including:
Food waste and processing by-products.
Pulp and paper mill byproducts from sources such as pine and poplar trees.
