Bio-active compounds from spruce

The project BioActive Compounds from Spruce - BACS has developed processes for the extraction of bioactive substances through processing of spruce, and applications for such products in agriculture, animal feed, hygiene products and cosmetics. The sustainability of the products has been in focus, and life cycle analyses (LCA) have been used as guidelines during process and application development. 2 Norwegian industries, 5 Norwegian R&D groups from academia (with 2 postdocs) and contract research institutes and 5 foreign companies from Europe and North America, have participated in the project which lasted for 3.5 years. The foreign companies have covered their own costs and received no financing. The developed products have not been commercially available until now, and most of the applications for the products are new. In such a setting, this is a ground-breaking project. The goal has been aimed at high-quality special products with low volume that are used to solve specific challenges in the industries and applications where they are used. A large variety of processes were evaluated in the initial phase, and the extracted compounds were screened for activity in the indicated applications. In the second phase, two process concepts were chosen for further development and prototype extracts were produced on a pilot scale. In the final phase, the prototypes have been evaluated in further application tests.

The project has provided two new processes, for the production of two new products. Borregaard has already started marketing these new products. In a preliminary business plan, based on cautious volumes, prices and ramp up times for sales volumes, we see a potential for additional sales of products from the project of NOK 150 - 500 million. Calculations of NPV, IRR and a sensitivity analysis show good opportunities for a profitable business based on bioactive compounds extracted from spruce. The learning from this project is expected to give rise to new ideas for further development (both processes, products and applications) and will hopefully give rise to new start-ups also outside the core business for the Norwegian industrial partners.

The project BioActive Compounds from Spruce - BACS aims at developing processes to extract bioactive compounds from sidestreams of spruce processing and applications for such streams for use in agriculture, feed, personal care, cosmetics. Sustainability of the products will be in focus, and LCA will be used as a guideline during process and application development. 2 Norwegian industries, 5 Norwegian RnD groups from academia (with 2 post docs) and contract research institutes, 5 foreign industries from Europe and North-America and 3 European Universities will be partnering up to run this project over 3,5 years. The foreign companies cover their own costs, and will not receive any funding. Most of the products have not been commercially available so far, and most of the applications of the products are new. In such a setting, this is a groundbreaking project. Products aimed for are high value, low volume specialty products, used to solve specific challenges in the industries and applications where they are applied.