Nanocellulose Technology Market: Snapshot

Nanocellulose or nano-sized cellulose is the elementary building block of natural cellulose available in the dimension of 10-9 meter (nanometer). It is a naturally occurring material isolated from cellulose of wood, various plants, algae or bacteria. Demand for nanocellulose materials is on the rise due to the biodegradability and compatibility. Also, the applications relevant to the fields of material science and biomedical engineering due to the excellent mechanical properties, tailorable surface chemistry and optical properties are propelling the demand for nanocellulose. Two major types of nanocellulose include cellulose nano fibrils and cellulose nano crystals. The unique properties such as high tensile strength, low density and high degree of thermal stability are propelling the demand for nanocellulose for various end user industries.

The attractive features of nanocellulose can be utilized in several end user industries such as composites manufacturing, paper processing, food & beverage, personal care, paints & coatings and pharmaceutical. Potential end user industries include oil & gas, construction and textiles. The global nanocellulose technology market is concentrated on the developed regions such as North America and Europe. Asia Pacific is also anticipated to have attractive growth potential in the nanocellulose technology market due to the increase in demand for biodegradable products from the developed economies. Continuous technological innovations, advancements made in the personal care and pharmaceutical sectors and rise in focus on biodegradable products are propelling the demand for nanocellulose.

Extensive support and funding by the governments across the globe is projected to boost nanocellulose market. The government of the U.S, Canada, Sweden, Australia and Japan have initiated research and technology projects to promote production of nanocellulose on pilot and commercial scales during the last decades. The mission P3 Nano, initiated by the governments of the U.S and Canada encourage manufacturers to strategize their business through public-private partnerships is also anticipated to boost the nanocellulose market. Superior structural properties of nanocellulose compared to those of its counterparts such as cellulose ether and cellulose acetate are also expected to increase the demand for nanocellulose. The significant potential of nanocellulose to be used in several industrial applications such as composites, viscosifiers, rheology modifier are expected to offer attractive growth potential for the nanocellulose technology market. The key potential applications of nanocellulose technology market include applications in the end user industries such as oil & gas, textiles and construction

Though nanocellulose technology market is experiencing huge demand from various end user industries, economic barrier in the form of high capital cost hinders its penetration power. Large scale commercial production of nanocellulose requires cost effective production and processing methods. Generally, capacity expansion of manufacturing plants requires installation of advanced equipment, technology and quality management systems. Unavailability of appropriate instrumental infrastructure is likely to hinder the scaling up of nanocellulose production. The major threat for nanocellulose technology is the low cost of substitute products. However, in terms of quality, nanocellulose outshines its counterparts.

Manufacturers are striving to gain competitive advantage in the market by acquiring advanced technologies. With the introduction of sophisticated equipment, the nanocellulose technology market is anticipated to exhibit attractive growth. Manufacturers are engaged in the production of bacterial nanocellulose. However, optimization of the manufacturing process requires more research and developmental activities. Similarly, manufacturers are involved in the production of cellulose nano crystals as well, owing to their unique properties. In 2017, Borregaard, a key player in nanocellulose technology market invested a significant amount for the enhancement of the production of nanocellulose. The partnership agreement between Cellu Force Inc and Fibria Cellulose in the manufacturing of nanocellulose crystals was initiated in 2016. In the same year, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd acquired the liquid packaging board business of Weyerhaeuser and the acquisition is anticipated to help Nippon paper Industries sharpen its product portfolio in its wood and cellulose fiber products. The biodegradable nanocellulose product, developed by Stora Enso is used for packaging dairy products and other chilled foods. Manufacturers strive to expand towards the emerging economies in the Asia Pacific region.

Nanocellulose technology market made substantial progress in the last decade. Advancements in nanotechnology is the key factor behind this huge expansion of the market. The key players operating in the global nanocellulose technology market includes Borregaard, UPM-Kymmene Corporation, CelluForce Inc, American Process Inc, Nippon Paper Industries, Co.Ltd , Axcelon Biopolymers Corporation, Innventia AB, Melodea Ltd, Oji Holdings Corporation, Stora Enso and Sappi Global. Most of the manufacturers focus on the extensive research and developmental activities to develop high performance bacterial nanocellulose based products for biomedical and non-medical applications.