Paper maker plans to make aquafeed ingredient from by-products

Global paper company Sylvamo has partnered with Swedish industrial biotechnology company Cirkular to create an aquafeed protein ingredient.

The Tree-to-Feed project uses Cirkular’s proprietary filamentous fungi technology which ferments pulp by-products from the paper manufacturing process to produce Cirkulein, sustainable feed protein ingredient.

The project, partially funded by Sweden’s innovation agency Vinnova, will begin as a pilot in September. The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences will conduct feeding trials to evaluate the digestibility of feed made with Cirkulein, and fish growth.

Reducing waste

“We look forward to collaborating on this innovative project. Our purpose is to produce paper in the most responsible and sustainable ways,” said Michael Lindemann, manager of Sylvamo’s Nymolla mill in Sweden.

“By providing our by-products as a raw material, we can reduce waste and contribute even more to the circular economy.”

Cirkular’s chief executive Eric Oste said the project gave his company a great opportunity to demonstrate its technology and product quality on a larger scale.

“We offer a sustainable feed solution, in large volumes, at a competitive price point, supporting the growing demand for aqua feed in the Nordics and globally.”

Although the project will start as a pilot, there is potential to produce tens of thousands of tonnes of Cirkulein annually.

Sylvamo, headquartered in Memphis in the United States, has mills in Europe, Latin America and North America, and employs more than 6,500 people.