With the launch of its new 2026–2030 cycle, the Cellulose Valley Chair of Industrial Excellence aims to strengthen the European leadership of Grenoble INP – UGA, accelerate the market launch of low-carbon packaging solutions, and support the sustainable transformation of industrial sectors, in direct response to new European packaging regulations. Supported by the Grenoble INP Foundation, the chair has been renewed for an additional five years, building on the concrete results achieved since its creation in 2021.
In response to the environmental limitations of plastic packaging, Cellulose Valley is developing recyclable, bio-based, high-performance alternatives made from cellulose, drawing on the recognized expertise of the LGP2 laboratory* and Grenoble INP – Pagora, UGA, leading European players in the field of cellulose-based materials. The chair brings together an industrial ecosystem covering the entire packaging value chain, with partners such as Ahlstrom, Aptar, CHANEL Fragrances & Beauty, Citeo, Decathlon, DS Smith, Guillin and Marie, and has been further strengthened this year with the addition of Fibre Excellence, Centre Technique du Papier (CTP) and 'ANDRITZ.
A new phase focused on improving performance and scaling up operations
The chair’s new research cycle tackles major technical challenges that are central to industry expectations and regulatory developments: improving barrier properties (water, grease, oxygen), replacing PFAS, reducing material weight, ensuring food contact safety, achieving recyclability in accordance with PPWR regulations, and developing innovative processes for molded cellulose and 3D materials. The goal is clear: to move the most promising solutions from the laboratory to industrial demonstrators, and then to market.
Since 2021, Cellulose Valley has facilitated the exploration of new cellulose functionalization techniques and the development of proof-of-concepts with a view to scaling up to semi-industrial and then industrial levels, progressing from prototypes to demonstrators. This work has notably led to molded cellulose alternatives to polystyrene, the development of rigid food trays, high-performance cardboard solutions for the luxury sector, as well as materials incorporating active functions (barriers, antimicrobial properties, weight reduction). Several projects have already undergone testing on pilot lines and industrial trials, in close collaboration with partners.
“Cellulose offers a renewable and recyclable alternative to plastics. The technical challenges are real, and only through close collaboration between researchers and industry can we develop effective, scalable solutions”, emphasizes Erkki Laiti (Ahlstrom), Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board.
A collective ambition on a European scale
Cellulose Valley brings together a multidisciplinary community of researchers, doctoral students, R&D engineers, and students to establish a European cellulose-based packaging industry, in response to environmental challenges and regulatory changes related to SUP and PPWR. The chair relies in particular on six PhD students, R&D engineers, and researchers working on key issues such as the replacement of plastics and polystyrene, the improvement of barrier performance, the replacement of PFAS, the lightweighting of structures, and the recyclability of packaging. Each year, approximately 40 proof-of-concept projects are conducted to accelerate the technological maturity of the developed solutions. Since 2021, more than 30 proof-of-concepts have been completed, several of which were tested on pilot lines or under industrial conditions, leading to demonstrators in sectors heavily impacted by regulations, particularly food, luxury goods, and sports. With 17 dedicated staff members each year, Cellulose Valley combines research, training, and industrial innovation to provide long-term support for the transition of the packaging industry.
