Day 1 Fibers & Big Picture Thinking
Kicking off on a positive note, our partners from Stockholm University shared exciting updates on progress with stinging nettle & eelgrass feedstocks. Once overlooked, nettle is emerging as a strong candidate for sustainable materials. Field trials have begun to show real promise—demonstrating good growth and mechanical properties, even under challenging conditions.
The discussion then turned to refining, with the Bio-LUSH process. Our partners form Empa, FCBA, SU, and VTT shared insights into optimizing conversion steps—looking into enzyme treatments and energy-efficient processes, as well as refining methods for enhancing pulp quality. Lignin, often seen as a leftover, is being reevaluated as a functional component rather than a waste stream. Applications in coatings and composites are gaining traction, hinting at new ways to extract more value from every plant.
As the Bio-LUSH project matures, sustainability assessment is becoming deeply integrated into each step of the value chain. IVL is evaluating chemicals and potential toxicity risks, and a toolkit is in development to help partners assess the sustainability performance of each step. Meanwhile, experimental cellulose packaging from citrus and wood-based sources offers early glimpses of market-relevant applications.
A Lab Tour That Brought the Science to Life
In the afternoon, we toured Empa’s cutting-edge research labs. Seeing where Bio-LUSH materials are developed, tested, and refined added a tangible layer to the work. The behind-the-scenes peek at the technology driving our project was a clear highlight of the day.
Day 2 Practice Makes Perfect (Abstracts)
The second day shifted focus to communication and practical impact—specifically, how to translate technical work into useful messages for farmers and industry stakeholders. Collaboratively, our partners drafted practice abstracts that distilled research outcomes into accessible, actionable formats.
Later, each partner outlined their roadmaps for the coming year, touching on everything from feedstock supply and quality testing to sustainability assessments and market exploration.
We rounded off the day with a walking tour of Zurich—visiting ETH Zurich (yes, we stopped by Albert Einstein’s old locker), taking in the view from Lindenhof, and enjoying the late-spring charm of the city. A relaxed and inspiring end to a productive day.
Day 3 Closing Strong
Our final morning focused on planning and coordination. We mapped out the next General Assembly and discussed upcoming deliverables, milestones, and outstanding questions—both scientific and administrative.
We also witnessed a live demonstration of fiber processing techniques, adding a hands-on dimension to the discussions. Seeing raw materials undergo transformation into advanced fibers brought the full value chain to life.
To close the meeting, we visited Empa’s NEST building—a modular, experimental facility showcasing sustainable building technologies. It was a fitting way to wrap up: a living example of how circular principles can move from concept to reality when science, design, and innovation work hand-in-hand.
This meeting underscored just how far Bio-LUSH has come and how much more is possible when science, sustainability, and storytelling work in tandem.
See us in action in this short video recap
