WCEF2025 Accelerator Session: The Bio-based Future

Join us to explore how biomass sidestreams can be transformed into high-value products. This insightful session organized by FinnCERES Materials Platform will showcase cutting-edge technologies and real-world applications from Finland and Brazil, highlighting the critical role of biomass valorization in the circular economy. Gain valuable insights into the economic and environmental benefits of these innovations and explore their potential impact on your industry or community.

This online event is an Accelerator Session at the World Circular Economy Forum 2025 (www.wcef2025.com). WCEF2025 will gather forward-looking thinkers and doers and present the game-changers in the circular economy. The forum will be held from 13 to 16 May in São Paolo, Brazil. WCEF2025 is organised jointly by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, FIESP (Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo), CNI (Brazilian National Industry Confederation) and SENAI-SP (Brazilian National Industrial Learning Service), in close collaboration with international partner organisations. Free of charge, open to all online. On social media, you can follow the event with #WCEF2025.

Date:  Thursday May 15, 2025

Time: 15:00-16:30 EEST (UTC+3)

Programme

15:00-15:05 (EEST)

Opening words, Prof. Luana Dessbesell, Aalto University

15:05-15:25 (EEST)

Hanne Wikberg, Chempolis

Transforming biomass into value with organosolv processing

Dr. Hanne Wikberg is Product and Business Development Director at Chempolis. The company specializes in fractionating biomass into high quality cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose product fractions. Dr. Wikberg's team focuses on identifying, developing, and commercializing value-added products from these fractions, collaborating with a diverse range of customers and partners, from startups to large corporations. She holds a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Helsinki and possesses extensive experience in R&D of lignin-based products and future biorefinery projects, having previously contributed to Fortum’s Bio2X team and VTT.

15:25-15:55 (EEST)

Caio Otoni, UNICAMP, INCT Circularity

Don't waste food waste: Materializing circular plastics from side-stream biomass

Dr. Caio G. Otoni is a Professor of Polymer Chemistry at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and a member of the Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar). Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor of Materials Engineering at UFSCar, where he has also earned his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering. Dr. Otoni is a Food Engineer by training and has also worked at United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Aalto University, and the University of Bologna. His research focuses on biobased multifunctional materials, nanocomposites, nanohybrids, and nanocelluloses, with interests in developing biopolymer-based multifunctional packaging materials, such as nanocomposite films for edible packaging, and upcycling agri-food waste into advanced materials.

15:55-16:30 (EEST)

Pitching of FinnCERES Proof-of-Concepts projects

FinnCERES, a competence center formed by Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, focuses on the materials bioeconomy and is funded by the Flagship Programme of the Research Council of Finland. In this session, we showcase projects that have reached the Proof-of-Concept stage. Join us to hear brief highlights of these fascinating initiatives:

• ACFilm: All-Cellulose TFC structures for membrane applications

• BiOptics: Bio/Chemical Optical Flowcell Analyzer

• CELNAS: Cellulose nanostructures for textile recycling

• CELSens: Cellulose-based Electrochemical Sensor platform for detection of small molecules

• Co-Foam: Cellulose-based foams for water-assisted CO2 capture

• STORAGE: Stable and Sustainable Organic Radical Battery

• Tree2Ink: From trees to carbon negative ultrablack multifunctional inks

Register for the Accelerator Session below (the registration will open in March - stay tuned).

This Accelerator Session is part of the FinnCERES Annual Seminar Bio-based Futures, organized on May 15-16, 2025 in Espoo and online. If this session piques your interest in sustainable practices in the circular bioeconomy — covering topics like alternative feedstocks, circular carbon solutions, and novel uses of forest industry side streams — be sure to check out the full program and register for the complete two-day event here.