Forest-based resins challenge fossil materials

Researchers at the University of Oulu have developed new high-performance bio-based resins that can replace conventional oil-based materials in composite products — without compromising strength, cost, or industrial scalability.

As composite materials continue to play a critical role in renewable energy, transportation, marine industries and construction, biobased resins may become a driver of sustainable industrial production.

The new epoxy and polyester resins, produced from biomass-derived platform chemicals, match or even outperform their fossil-based counterparts. The raw materials are sourced from abundant forestry and agricultural side streams such as sawdust and straw — transforming what was once waste into advanced materials for demanding applications.

Polyester resins are widely used in fiberglass composite structures such as boats and caravans. Epoxy resins, meanwhile, are essential in adhesives and high-performance composites found in sports equipment and industrial components.

According to Doctoral Researcher Mikko Salonen, the results are striking: “The biomass-based polyester resin we developed shows up to 76% higher tensile strength than a commercial fossil-based polyester resin.” The findings demonstrate that bio-based thermoset resins can achieve technical performance equal to or exceeding today’s materials.

“Bio-based resins will not have a significant price difference compared to fossil resins,” says Senior Research Fellow Juha Heiskanen. “Once bio-based platform chemicals are produced, they can be processed using existing chemical industry production lines.”

Beyond performance and price, the new resins offer a critical sustainability advantage: chemical recyclability.

Unlike conventional composite materials — such as those used in wind turbine blades — which are notoriously difficult to recycle, the new materials can be chemically broken down and reused as raw materials. This opens a pathway toward circular composite manufacturing.

From forest and field sidestreams to high-value materials

The key building blocks — including hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural — are derived from cellulose and hemicellulose found in lignocellulosic biomass in forestry and agricultural side streams provide a plentiful and renewable feedstock in many countries.

While the forest industry has traditionally focused on pulp production, new technologies now enable broader utilisation of biomass components such as lignin. Integrating chemical industry processes with forest-based raw materials may create entirely new bioeconomy value chains.

“Upgrading bio-based raw materials into high-performance materials and products offers a significant opportunity to expand the bioeconomy,” says Heiskanen, who leads a seven-member research team developing biomass-based materials. Three patents have already been filed, and the team is currently seeking partners to move into pilot-scale production.

Furthermore, with less than two percent of global oil reserves located within the EU, expanding the use of bio-based materials is also strategically important for Europe. Biomass-based resins offer a way to strengthen material self-sufficiency while advancing climate and circular economy goals.

The epoxy resin results were published in February 2026 in the study Circular composite materials: Biomass-based furan epoxies with high-performance and closed-loop recyclability. The research involved collaborators from Italy and Sweden and was carried out under the Business Finland-funded FurBio flagship project

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Source & image credit: University of Oulu