According to the company, manufacturing bio-based composites made from materials like flax or hemp requires less energy when compared to traditional materials. For example, if glass fiber material was replaced with a bio-composite, approximately three tonnes of CO2 per tonne of glass fiber would be saved, Cellexcel claims.
However, in dry environments, like the inside of a car, bio-composites work well, but for exteriors there is a need to improve their performance, it said.
Cellexcel’s technology focuses on improving the water resistance properties of flax and hemp materials through chemical modification, allowing them to then be employed in a wider range of applications, such as lawnmowers, drones and external automotive panels.
“The desire to reduce emissions will lead to the ultimate success of bio-composites being adopted on a large scale,” said Tim Pryce, executive chair of Cellexcel.
