Review of the Conference Dedicated to Natural Fibres and Polymers
In September, Troyes hosted the seventh Conference Dedicated to Natural Fibres and Polymers, bringing together researchers, manufacturers and experts around a common goal: develop the use of natural fibres in the fields of composites and plastics processing.
Techtera took this opportunity to present the European Biostruct project, which explores the integration of natural fibres into structural and technical composite parts. Two demonstrators are currently being developed: a motorboat and a six-metre-long wind turbine blade, demonstrating the potential of these materials for use in difficult applications.
Other topics enriched the discussions, including optimisation of performance, which played a prominent role, with the presentation of new dry fractionation processes, as a method for isolating certain compounds or for pretreatment. GROWNLab at the University of Innsbruck shared its work on the development of long hemp fibres, while FRD-CODEM proposed innovative decision-making tools, based on colorimetry and IR analysis. These will provide a better evaluation of hemp quality, during the retting and production stages, depending on the intended use.
The use of natural fibres in the automotive industry was also widely highlighted. Materi’Act and APM (Automotive Performance Materials) presented the NAFIlean range, a recyclable hemp-polypropylene compound already adopted by the industry. Ecotechnilin unveiled the “Up-green” project, which integrates nonwovens with visible natural fibres into vehicle interiors, with a first market launch planned for 2026. Finally, Bcomp shared its feedback on the challenges associated with using natural fibre reinforcements on automobile exteriors, including the problems of hygroscopicity and colour stability. They announced their successful integration into BMW automobiles.
Finally, discussions focused on eco-design procedures, highlighting the importance of bio-based materials in the transition to more sustainable composites.
These discussions confirm the growing momentum around natural fibres, with advances bringing research and industry closer together every day, toward solutions that are both more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Contact: Pauline GUILLON – pguillon@techtera.org
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