This is the goal of the Interreg Greater Region project ExtraBark. ExtraBark aims to valorize bark (by-products of the wood industry), which are currently undervalued but widespread in the Greater Region, through the extraction and characterization of molecules of interest for the production of new plant and wood protection products, as an alternative to synthetic products. ExtraBark kicked off in January 2024 and will continue to February 2027, bringing together a diverse consortium of 7 financial partners and 4 methodological partners from Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Germany.
Untapped Biobased Wood Side Stream
The territory of the Greater Region is characterized by a very significant, well-established, and interconnected wood processing industry that generates various by-products, including bark, which are currently under-valorized.
Chemical actors in the region are looking for biobased alternatives for their products. They have a strong interest in molecules extracted from plants, but there are still few specialized actors capable of meeting this demand.
Objectives
ExtraBark aims to address this gap by exploring the establishment of such a supply chain. The project proposes the development and validation of innovative, industrializable models based on the use of tree barks for molecule extraction. Two promising application sectors will be prioritized, given the current environmental challenges: plant protection and wood protection products.
Expected Outcomes
ExtraBark covers all valorization pathways for bark, including the exploitation of final residues after the extraction of molecules of interest. Expected outcomes from ExtraBark include the formulation of biocide and wood treatment products from bioactive molecules for applications in agronomy and wood protection. The results obtained will primarily be intended for wood and chemical companies in the Greater Region, as well as their regional support organizations.
The ExtraBark and SuperBark teams are excited to collaborate on future activities to achieve our shared goals in creating bio-based products from bark, especially as the two projects are running side by side.
To learn more about ExtraBark, contact the Coordinator Valbiom at communication@valbiom.be
Follow the journey of ExtraBark on LinkedIn
This project is co-funded by the ERDF: European Regional Development Fund and Wallonia.
