On December 10, 2025, the Cellulose Valley hosted the 4th ' edition of the Cellience international webinar. During four hours of scientific discussion and exchange, more than 400 registered participants—researchers, engineers, students, and industry professionals—from numerous countries, including the United Kingdom, Finland, the United States, and Brazil, took part in a comprehensive program focused on cellulosic materials and their applications for sustainable packaging.
From performance in use to end of life
Throughout the presentations, international experts shed light on three complementary areas that shape the sector’s transition:
• Paper & Barriers: understanding cellulose–water interactions, laser texturing of nanocellulose-based coatings to produce superhydrophobic and oleophobic layers, water-based multilayer solutions, and functional coatings ranging from water-repellent paper to water-harvesting materials.
• New processing techniques & weldability: mycelium–nanocellulose composites for insulating packaging, the role of welding in improving moisture barrier performance, and injection molding of cellulose-based formulations for industrial applications.
• End-of-life: indicators to measure impact (including the plastic footprint), life cycle analyses of cellulose-based coatings and packaging, and reuse models to transition toward reusable applications.
The work presented demonstrated concrete paths for progress, clearly illustrating the value of research and demonstrators in improving the performance of cellulose-based packaging.
A must-attend event for the ecosystem
With each edition, Cellience has established itself as a forum for international dialogue where laboratories, technical centers, and industry representatives come together. Beyond the results presented, several key points stood out:
- Advances in barrier technologies and surface activation/structuring processes.
- The rise of forming processes (weldability, injection molding) tailored to the performance and production rate requirements of packaging.
- The integration of LCA methods, impact measurement, and reuse models to design, from the outset, resource-efficient solutions compatible with end-of-life management systems.
The success of this 4th ' edition of the webinar highlights the key role played by the Cellulose Valley Chair, supported by Grenoble INP Foundation through the sponsorship of eight industrial partners and backed by the LGP2* and the school Grenoble INP – Pagora, UGA. It also demonstrates the community’s growing interest in alternatives to single-use plastics that align with regulatory and societal expectations.
*CNRS / UGA / Grenoble INP – UGA / Agefpi
