Hygiene and health group Essity is participating in the European research project PROTEUS, which is working on bio-based superabsorbent materials derived from sustainably harvested brown algae. The company is investigating whether raw materials from the brown algae Laminaria hyperborea can be used in products such as baby diapers, menstrual products, and incontinence materials, as an alternative to current fossil-based plastics.
From fossil superabsorbers to seaweed
Superabsorbent materials form the heart of modern hygiene products: they absorb urine or menstrual blood and retain it. Today, these materials are predominantly made from fossil raw materials. Within PROTEUS, Essity is evaluating a renewable alternative based on Laminaria hyperborea, a European brown algae species that, according to the project partners, is currently underutilized.
Anke Renz, Vice President of Research & Development at Essity, states in the announcement that she believes continuous innovation is essential to improve hygiene, health, and well-being and to contribute to a more sustainable, circular society. To this end, the company collaborates with established suppliers and start-ups to develop and apply new sustainable materials.
Almost complete utilization of the biomass
One of PROTEUS's central ambitions is to significantly increase the utilization of seaweed biomass. While the industry currently uses approximately 15 percent of the algae, according to the project partners, the PROTEUS process is intended to valorize almost the entire biomass. This involves the use of formaldehyde-free extraction technology. The harvesting itself is carried out using a hybrid-electric vessel, which should further limit emissions from the supply chain.
Flagship project of CBE JU
PROTEUS stands for kelP side stReam valOrisaTion to dEvelop new biobased valUe chainS and is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), a public-private partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium. The project runs from May 2024 through April 2028, with a CBE JU contribution of 9,6 million euros.
The consortium consists of eleven organizations from six countries: Norway, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Coordination is handled by the Norwegian Alginor ASA, which specializes in the sustainable processing of Laminaria hyperborea . According to PROTEUS, it aims to establish the first fully integrated, industrial-scale biorefinery focused on European brown algae, with applications in food, animal feed, personal care, and industrial sectors.
Food specialist Vaess is participating in the project from the Netherlands. Vaess assesses whether residual streams from seaweed cultivation are suitable for food applications, examines functional and organoleptic properties, and investigates the route to market and regulations. Other partners include Borregaard, NORSUS, the Institute of Marine Research, CLIC Innovation, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, and Olmix.
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Photo: Keith DP Wilson
