The keynote address at the official opening ceremony of a CelluForce plant was delivered by Minister of Natural Resources, The Honourable Joe Oliver. The facility is the first in the world to produce nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) at a commercial scale in Windsor, Quebec.
The new facility has been built based on a joint investment by the Governments of Canada and Quebec and signifies a breakthrough in the development of a novel line of renewable consumer and industrial products from wood fibre.
Minister Oliver stated that the Canadian Government has made an investment of $23.2 million in transforming the forest sector of Canada by providing support to the commercialization and development of sophisticated Canadian technology. Assistance to novel projects like this is needed in order to improve and diversify markets both abroad and at home and to develop a large number economic opportunities for communities dependent on forests.
This project was conducted by Domtar and FPInnovations assisted by the Government of Quebec and Canada. $12 million was provided by the Government of Canada under the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program (PPGTP) and as per the Transformative Technologies-Pilot Scale Demonstration Program, $11.2 million was provided, totaling to $23.2 million. Furthermore $10.2 million was offered by the Government of Quebec. This new plant will produce 1 t of nanocrystalline cellulose every day.
Nanocrystalline cellulose, a novel technology enables Canada’s forest sector to open up to new, high-value markets. NCC may be utilized to develop products that include coatings, paints, films, cosmetics, textiles, barriers, and advanced materials.
Nanocrystalline cellulose is available in plenty, is biodegradable and renewable, is non-toxic and has a considerable benefit over current nanomaterials.
Source: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca