Scientists turn wood waste into foam that replaces plastic and decomposes in soil within months

In Canada, wood waste from logging and areas affected by wildfires is finding an unexpected 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). While discarded plastic foams can remain in landfills for over 500 years, this foam is designed to decompose in soil within a few months. The project is aimed at protecting products in the packaging industry along with working as insulation panels for the construction industry.From wood waste to foam blocksHere, one of the main USP's of the foam is that it has been designed to disappear in soil within months.Image credit: The University of British ColumbiaThe process begins with softwoods such as spruce, pine and fir, a common conifer species in North America. Then the plant uses heat, mechanical processing and minimal amounts of chemical additives to transform the fibres into a lightweight material. The result resembles the foam used in packaging.UBC states that millions of tons of plastic foam packaging end up in landfills every year. Some of these c...