Futurity

The mission

To replace oil we are making better products from renewable trees.

Responsible
Plantation Forestry

We are partnered with world leading technology developers to turn FSC certified forestry into advanced products for tomorrow’s applications today.
Natural Climate
Moderation

Trees sequester carbon from the air to make wood. We use wood so we can leave oil-based carbon in the ground.
Naturally
Better

This enables us to harness the natural attributes of a tree like strength, durability and longevity, and apply these materials to products for future applications.
Proven
Technology

A novel integration of our partner's proven proprietary technology in biology, chemistry and engineering, we separate a tree into its building blocks; lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose.

The process

How it Works: Carefully selected low grade and waste wood is harvested. The bark is removed, then processed into a fine chip.; The chip is then pretreated using our developed Futuration™ process, enabling highly efficient processing of New Zealand pine wood.; The Sunburst™ process from Sweetwater Energy mechanically separates the wood using steam and pressure into it's primary building blocks: lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. The METNIN™ process from MetGen further separates the lignin using enzymes to produce multiple highly usable lignin streams; Our Valority™ process then optimises three unique properties of New Zealand pine from these platform chemicals to produce advanced bio-based material grades which outperform the oil-incumbent in a range of proven applications, highlighted below.; Futurity have developed the process to utilise 100% bio-gas for it's thermal energy requirements, allowing us to produce carbon-negative materials and keep oil in the ground.

Products

Lignins are the second most abundant chemical within a tree after cellulose. Lignin supports and sticks the cellulose within a tree and has unique waterproofing, anti-microbial and UV resistant properties. Lignin is what makes wood brown and why paper is white when the lignin is removed.

MCC and NFC are cellulose materials extracted from a tree. Within a tree, cellulose provides the structure and strength, allowing trees to stand tall. MCC and NFC are either micro or nano-scale materials, which are strong, flexible, and can absorb large amounts of water.

Packaging Coatings

Using the Valority™ process, we eliminate the need for oil derived coatings and films on paper and cardboard packaging for humidity control and waterproofing. We provide an all-natural packaging solution which is recyclable, compostable and provides a cost-saving for our customers.

Foam

Using the Valority™ process, our unique New Zealand pine lignin can substitute up to 40% of the oil-derived chemicals within traditional foams, improving the performance of the end-product and reducing the cost and carbon emissions during foam production.

Concrete

Our Valority™ process produces an optimal grade of MCC and NFC for addition into concrete. This reduces the total amount of concrete required while retaining strength requirements. This provides significant cost reduction in concrete use and the associated carbon footprint.

Paint

Our Valority™ process creates an optimal grade of MCC and NFC, which is used as a natural thickener and stabilising agent in paints and coatings. It can reduce the environmental impact and cost of current paint and coating production.

Paper and Cardboard

Our Valority™ process creates high-performing MCC and NCF materials, which reduces the amount of pulp used for paper and cardboard production, while improving product strength and providing a cost benefit to packaging producers.

Applications

MCC and NFC Cellulose Materials

Concrete

Fire retardant coatings, insulation & products-nav
UV resistant paints, cosmetics, coating & additives
Resins & adhesives
Anti fouling
Waterproof coatings & additives
Energy storage

Fibre reinforcing
Rheology modification
Concrete & structural reinforcing
Electronics
Cosmetics
Paint Stabilisation

Food Storage
Biomedical applications
Textile fibres

About

Futurity are in the process of establishing New Zealand's first advanced commercial biorefinery in Tairāwhiti-Gisborne. This plant will be the first of a number of biorefineries to be constructed around New Zealand.

Our success to date is enabled by close support from leading international technology partners, as well as GLOBALEAGLE, Trust Tairāwhiti, Temple Investment, Scion Research, Callaghan Innovation, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, and a range of active product and supply chain development projects with international and domestic businesses. Together we will replace oil based materials with trees.

For further information please talk to our team: [email protected]