Edinburgh Napier University

  With an ever increasing push towards sustainability and environmentally friendly products, Unilever is actively evaluating bio-based functional materials for use in Home and Personal Care products (HPC). Nanocellulose (CNF), particularly bacterial CNF, is a bio-based, environmentally friendly functional polysaccharide, but it’s use is cost prohibitive. This project looks to evaluate a more cost effective source of CNF whilst offering “market leading” performance; CNF derived from Laminaria hyperborea macroalgae. This innovative macroalgal CNF is a market first, and is produced by the Material Sciences Group of Edinburgh Napier University led by Dr Mark Dorris, from the final residue of Marine Biopolymers Limited (MBL) Seaweed Bio-refinery (patented). This proposed project aims to produce Laminaria hyperborea CNF for functional, safety and affordability evaluation by Unilever for use in its HPC products. The project will assess the material against the performance of bacterial CNF and will also assess the market and the cost of production at scale.