New wood fibre technology revolutionises the recyclability of disposable cutlery
Uusi puu – The New Wood Project shows what wood can do. The project promotes wood-based innovations and provides information about them.
Fiberdom’s wood fibre based disposable cutlery combines a pleasant user experience with recyclability and home compostability.
Disposable plastic cutlery was banned in the EU in 2021. Since then, a range of alternatives has entered the market, but challenges remain in areas such as usability, recyclability and responsible sourcing of raw materials.
Recycling composite cutlery made from wood fibre and plastic is highly challenging, as the two materials cannot be separated in the recycling process and therefore typically end up in mixed waste. Conventional wooden cutlery, on the other hand, has the naturally rough mouthfeel of wood. In addition, a significant share of the wooden cutlery used in Europe is manufactured in Asia, making it more difficult to ensure the origin and responsible sourcing of the wood raw material.
Fiberdom has developed a wood fibre based alternative to disposable plastic cutlery, based on its proprietary Duranova® technology.
Fiberdom’s cutlery is made from Finnish FSC-certified wood fibre, whose properties are enhanced using the company’s proprietary technology and natural binders. Heat and pressure treatment strengthens the wood fibres throughout the material structure, resulting in cutlery that is smooth, strong and pleasant to use. After use, the cutlery can be recycled in the same way as cardboard and is also certified for home composting. Fiberdom’s wood fibre cutlery is already available to consumers in K Group and S Group stores across Finland.
Duranova® technology significantly enhances the strength, stiffness, formability and moisture resistance of conventional wood fibre materials such as pulp and paperboard. The treatment enables the production of thin and lightweight products that are also strong enough for demanding applications. Enhanced formability enables deep and complex three-dimensional shapes, while the material retains its performance even in high-humidity conditions.
Disposable cutlery is one of the first commercial applications of Duranova® technology. The company is developing technology and material solutions for a wide range of industries, from packaging to construction, interior applications and consumer products.
Forest.fi and New Wood are initiatives of the Finnish Forest Association.