A method for producing a cellulose product from a multi-layer cellulose blank structure, wherein the method comprises the steps; forming the multi-layer cellulose blank structure from at least a first layer of dry-formed cellulose fibres and a second layer of a cellulose fibre web structure, through arranging the at least first layer and second layer in a superimposed relationship to each other and in the superimposed relationship arranging the at least first layer and second layer in contact with each other; arranging the multi-layer cellulose blank structure in a forming mould; heating the multi-layer cellulose blank structure to a forming temperature in the range of 100° C. to 300° C., and forming the cellulose product from the multi-layer cellulose blank structure in the forming mould, by pressing the heated multi-layer cellulose blank structure with an isostatic forming pressure of at least 1 MPa, preferably 4-20 MPa, wherein the multi-layer cellulose blank structure is shaped into a two-dimensional or three-dimensional fibre composite structure having a single-layer configuration.

Provided are barrier films, packaging products including barrier films, and methods of making paper/packaging products including barrier films. The barrier films can have antimicrobial properties and can include nanofibrillated cellulose treated with hemp extractives. The nanofibrillated cellulose can be obtained from autohydrolysed hemp pulp. The antimicrobial packaging products or paper products can be made by obtaining pulp fibers from autohydrolyzed hemp hurds, mechanically grinding the pulp fibers to obtain nanofibrillated cellulose, solvent casting the nanofibrillated cellulose films in an aqueous system, treating the nanofibrillated cellulose films with hemp extractives, and applying the hemp extractive treated films to a substrate.

There is provided a method for manufacturing a patterned cellulose-based film. The cellulose-based film is modified with a pattern provided by a mold is caused to absorb water. The absorbed water causes a volume increase of the cellulose-based film, which causes modifying the cellulose-based film by the cellulose-based film pressing against the mold. Since, the cellulose-based film is pressed against the mold due to swelling caused by water molecules absorbed into the cellulose-based film, the pattern of the mold may be replicated to the cellulose-based film without necessarily requiring any external pressure.

A composite and method for producing the composite by incorporating wood or wood pulp fibres with a suitable thermoplastic polymer and coupling agent are described. Homogeneous, void-free transparent/translucent thermoplastic materials in the form of pellets, films or three-dimensional moldable products are produced. The wood pulp fibres can be discrete natural fibres, and flexible assemblies of nano to micro elements, e.g., assemblies of aggregated carbon nanotubes. It is also possible to use our vacuum-assisted co-extrusion process to produce hybrid composites comprising the wood pulp fibre and a further rigid fibre, like glass or carbon fibres, and a flexible fibre or fibrillar network, like cellulose fibres or cellulose filaments. The thermoplastic resin can be, but not limited to, polyolefins, like polypropylene or polyethylene, or polyesters, like polylactic acid, or co-polymers, like acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer.

A method for manufacturing a cellulose product, comprising the steps: dry forming a cellulose blank in a dry forming unit; arranging the cellulose blank in a forming mould; heating the cellulose blank to a forming temperature in the range of 100° C. to 200° C.; and pressing the cellulose blank in the forming mould with a forming pressure of at least 1 MPa.

A packing material including a plurality of discrete cushioning elements and methods for making the same. The discrete cushioning elements may be cellulosic cushioning elements. A flexible linkage may connect the plurality of discrete cushioning elements in the packing material. The packing material may also include a bottom cellulosic sheet connected to a top cellulosic sheet with the plurality of cellulosic cushioning elements positioned between the top cellulosic sheet and the bottom cellulosic sheet. The packing material may also be a molded packing material that includes bonds comprising adhesive and cellulosic fibers. The adhesive and cellulosic fibers of the bonds may be dispersed between the folds of each of the cellulosic cushioning elements.

Bio-degradable means (100) for use as drinking straw, stirrer and chop stick and a method (200) for making the bio-degradable means (100) is provided. The bio-degradable means (100) includes at least one dried leaf strip (100S) configured to be at least one of straight rolled and spiral rolled along an entirety of an elongated guide member R to facilitate formation of an elongated bio-degradable means (100). The dried leaf strip (100S) is at least one of a coconut tree leaf strip, palm tree leaf strip and a plantain leaf strip. A bonding agent is applied at at least one edge portion of each dried leaf strip (100S) with respect to a length wise direction of the dried leaf strip (100S) to maintain the elongated bio-degradable means (100) in rolled position.

The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for making beverage containers that deteriorate after they are disposed of. Beverage containers or cartridges of the present disclosure may be similar to conventional non-biodegradable single-use coffee beverage pods or cartridges. Beverage containers of the present disclosure may be made from two or more different types of materials that readily decompose in the environment based on the different types of materials having different characteristics. For example, a first material may have a low porosity and be more hydrophobic than a second material that decomposes faster than the first material. Decomposition of the second material may cause the first material to decompose faster than it normally would as this accelerated decomposition may be based on the first material being in close proximity to microbes decomposing the second material.

Described are techniques for additive manufacturing of deformable objects. The techniques including a method comprising generating printing parameters for a deformable component. The method further comprises fabricating the deformable component by additive manufacturing, where a smart material is located at an articulation point of the deformable component, and where a base material is located at a static portion of the deformable component. The method further comprises supplying an environmental stimulus to the deformable component that causes the deformable component to transition from a first state to a second state.

A container configured to hold one or more units of a product is provided. The container may comprise a lid and a base. The lid and/or the base may be constructed from a pulp derived from a plant material. For example, the pulp derived from the plant material may be a wood pulp material. A related method is also provided.