Multiple uses of wood

Alternative to the use of non-renewable materials with new bioproducts produced from wood components.

Amounts invested in R&D for the development of new products and agreements with other organizations (BRL thousands)

  2022 2021 2020
Industrial R&D+I 43,626 25,691 11,831
Forestry R&D+I 20,235 15,646 14,389
TOTAL 63,861 41.337 26.220

 

"** Industrial R&D

Klabin's Research, Development and Industrial Innovation area is consolidated with two new development routes, reinforce and explore, which aim, in addition to strengthening the company's product portfolio, to also seek opportunities in new businesses and products. Within these two groups are all the research paths that work to:

• Reinforce the development of the forestry raw material for pulp, paper and new materials;

• Reinforce the optimization of paper and new applications, focusing on functional barriers;

• Exploit the biorefinery (multiple uses of the forestry base, such as lignin, renewable fuels (crude tall oil, bio-oil and turpentine);

• Explore the optimization of environmental processes, reuse of products generated in the process, reduction in water, energy and steam consumption;

• Explore nanotechnology – fractions of pulp in micro or nanoscale and application in new products.

 

The Industrial Technology Center has achieved several milestones in 2022, with a focus on the continuous improvement of wood quality assessments of new genetic materials planted at Klabin. Notable accomplishments include:

• Evaluation of the quality of the wood of more than 1,000 Eucalyptus spp. and Pine spp. trees, with the application of near infrared technology for rapid prediction of the chemical, physical and pulping characteristics of the wood.

• Evaluation of new applications of pulp in a product of wide application in the area of packaging and food.

 

The year 2022 saw a major breakthrough in increasing the Fluff pulp portfolio. PineFluff ExCel, an innovative product with a mix of hardwood and softwood pulp and the result of three years of research, was launched on the market.

Regarding optimization of paper and new applications, with a focus on functional barriers, it is important to highlight the actions taken to improve the properties of paper, with the goal of increasing its effectiveness as a sustainable material for packaging. This meets the growing demands of the market and society, as well as the continuous advancement of its intrinsic characteristics such as mechanical strength and surface quality. Advances were also made in the development of barriers to various substances (water, steam, fat, oxygen), achieving effective results in line with stakeholder expectations. Another new development was the antiviral paper for e-commerce packaging, a solution that utilizes organic components instead of silver particles, as well as the homologation of sack kraft with a sealable coating for two new customers.

 

The pilot plant of the Klabin Technology Center strengthened its role in market development. Partnerships were implemented and customers added to the new business portfolio. There was a record-breaking evaluation of kraft lignin by partners and customers, resulting in industrial tests in the wood panel and rubber industries. The microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) plant has become a production unit. The launch of Klamulti Premium Carrier, paper board with MFC in its composition, brought a new solution to the market. This product helps to maintain the balance of the Monte Alegre plant, as well as providing the customer with a tailored solution to their needs. Simultaneously, various generations of pulp-based products were created for use in other markets, such as cosmetics. The "Kind" brand was launched in partnership with &Co. company, with MFC taking the lead in a variety of highly natural products.

Klabin remains steady in its commitment to sustainability with the maintenance of the FSC certificate (C172336) for pine kraft lignin and pine and eucalyptus MFC. Furthermore, the new products team has been developing new material solutions for portfolio composition, while also fostering a culture of compliance and safety for these materials.

The Company's research also stands out for its sustainability aspects, such as striving for zero landfill and utilizing the co-products generated in the kraft process cycle. For example, the dregs (inorganic residue from the pulp production process) are being incorporated into the production of bricks with partners in the state of Paraná.

There were advances in research on the use of wood extracts and forest residues, forming green fuels – crude tall oil and bio-oil – in order to take advantage of 100% of the forest potential. With this, Klabin firmly establishes a decisive presence in the world's largest intellectual groups and institutions regarding these inputs. Application tests of these solutions were conducted in order to prove their potential in the Company's units. In addition, one of the lime kilns was converted to use green fuel at the Correia Pinto Unit.

Some extractives from pine wood, such as phytosterols, have been highlighted and incorporated into cosmetic products available in the market.

Highlights of the year:

• Launch of PineFluff ExCel;

• Launch of antiviral paper for e-commerce packaging;

• Launch of the first Brazilian cosmetics brand with MFC;

• Production of plywood sheets using lignin on an industrial scale;

• Commercial contract with a large chemical distributor for the sale of lignin as a rubber additive;

• Diversification of the cosmetics portfolio with Klabin raw material;

• Conversion of a lime kiln to use renewable fuel;

• Opportunity to allocate 1,500 tons of dregs for the production of ceramic bricks.

 

Recognition:

• WPO – World Star Global Packaging and ABTCP Packaging Papers Category Award, with the case of EkoMix, dispersible Sack Kraft

  2022 2021
Managers 3,00% 4%
Directors 5% 0
Total executives 22 27

Updated and verified on 22/06/23