VTT has developed a foam-formed cellulose-based material that is an attractive alternative to EPS. The material is based on 100% renewable material – wood pulp – and can be recycled in the same way as cardboard. The packaging and cushioning material can also be burned or composted like paper. In addition to being eco-friendly, foam-formed cellulose-based materials offer key technical benefits compared with the current alternatives. For example, the foam-forming technology allows short and long fibres to be combined to improve the mechanical performance of the foam, providing better protection. What's more, cellulose fibres can be combined with polymer or biopolymer fibres for even greater versatility. Foam-formed cellulose-based materials also look like a paper product, meaning consumers can instantly see that the brand has replaced bulky and hard-to-recycle EPS with an easily recyclable and renewable alternative.