World News, Today World News, Latest International News, World Breaking News, Trending News of World - Times of India
· collected 2026-08-28 · by TOI Science Desk
Scientists at the University of British Columbia have developed a biodegradable wood foam that can replace plastic foam in products such as packaging and insulation. According to UBC, millions of tons of plastic foam packaging end up in landfills every year and can persist for over five centuries. The new foam is made from wood waste using heat, mechanical processing, and minimal chemical additives, and is designed to decompose within a few months. A pilot plant in Vancouver is currently producing 150-200 kilograms of wood foam per day, with plans to scale up production to 1,000 tons per year at a facility in Burns Lake.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
In Canada, wood waste from logging and areas affected by wildfires is finding an unexpected fate.
asserted
waste → affect → fate
A new pilot in the country has begun converting this material into a lightweight, biodegradable wood foam designed to replace products made with plastic foam, according to information released by the
University of British Columbia (UBC).
uncertain
pilot → begin → Columbia
While discarded plastic foams can remain in landfills for over 500 years, this foam is designed to decompose in soil within a few months.
asserted
foam → discard → months
The project is aimed at protecting products in the packaging industry along with working as insulation panels for the construction industry.
asserted
project → aim → industry
Here, one of the main USP's of the foam is that it has been designed to disappear in soil within months.
asserted
it → design → months
The process begins with softwoods such as spruce, pine and fir, a common conifer species in North America.
asserted
process → begin → America
Then the plant uses heat, mechanical processing and minimal amounts of chemical additives to transform the fibres into a lightweight material.
asserted
plant → use → material
The result resembles the foam used in packaging.
asserted
result → resemble → packaging
UBC states that millions of tons of plastic foam packaging end up in landfills every year.
asserted
millions → state → landfills
Some of these can persist in those locations for over five centuries.
asserted
Some → persist → centuries
Here, one of the main USP's of the foam is that it has been designed to disappear in soil within months.
asserted
it → design → months
The technology originated in the lab of Professor Feng Jiang at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management.
asserted
technology → originate → Forestry
One of the most interesting aspects of it is that it can utilise residues from forestry activities and wildfire.
asserted
it → utilise → activities
Now, it faces one of the most challenging stages for any innovation: moving from the lab to large-scale production.
asserted
it → face → production
The technology is not just undergoing tests at a university.
asserted
technology → undergo → university
DicinFoam’s pilot plant is already operating in Vancouver.
asserted
plant → operate → Vancouver
Currently, the facility can produce between 150 and 200 kilograms of wood foam per day.
asserted
facility → produce → day
DicinFoam is a subsidiary predominantly controlled by Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership, the business arm of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation.
asserted
DicinFoam → control → Nation
“Dicin” means wood in the Wet’suwet’en language.
asserted
Dicin → mean → language
The intellectual property of the technology is jointly owned by UBC and the Indigenous organisation.
asserted
property → own → UBC
With pilot production, potential buyers can receive the material, test its performance, and evaluate potential commercial applications.
asserted
buyers → receive → applications
At the same time, the team can validate the production process before building much larger facilities.
asserted
team → validate → facilities
If the current phase works as expected, the scale will change rapidly.
asserted
scale → work → ?
The next phase envisions a larger facility in Burns Lake, within Wet’suwet’en territory.
asserted
phase → envision → territory
The goal will be to reach 1,000 tons of biodegradable foam per year.
asserted
goal → reach → year
The expectation is to create up to 15 jobs in the rural community.
asserted
expectation → create → community
After the Burns Lake facility, the team intends to make another leap.
asserted
team → intend → leap
The project calls for a factory with a capacity of 15,000 tons per year on Vancouver Island.
asserted
project → call → Island
This represents 15 times the annual capacity planned for the Burns Lake phase.
asserted
This → represent → phase
Moreover, the expansion could generate between 35 and 60 additional jobs, according to UBC.
uncertain
expansion → generate → UBC
The project aims to create an economic chain where Indigenous communities directly participate in the commercialisation and expansion of the innovation.
asserted
communities → aim → innovation
Additionally, indigenous students will have the opportunity to receive training in sustainable material development and business.
asserted
students → have → development
William Dennis and Shaun Dennis, members of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, are receiving training at the Vancouver factory.
asserted
Dennis → receive → factory
The idea is that this knowledge will assist in future operations closer to their communities.
asserted
knowledge → assist → communities
According to UBC, Canada currently relies heavily on imported products in this wood-based materials segment.
uncertain
Canada → accord → segment
Consequently, large-scale domestic production could also meet this demand.
uncertain
production → meet → demand
