![]() These products will be able to compete with their existing petroleum-based counterparts not only on sustainability criteria but also on enhanced performance and novelty (above and beyond copying current petroleum-based products) (Scion, 2015). By building on features designed by nature it is possible to develop products that deliver performance additions beyond the sustainability and renewability claims. To gain market access, these renewables will need proven green credentials, freedom from harmful chemicals and to be cost-effective. A primary objective is to develop new bio-based products and materials with functionalities not provided by existing petroleum-based options such as: lower weight heat and water resistance durability toughness and flame retardancy. Imagine a bio-economy where not only could agricultural and forest feedstocks such as lignin be turned into products but they would also be worth up to $2000 per tonne? To turn this vision into reality, biomass must be considered as more than simply a replacement for crude oil (Rinaldi et al., 2016, Upton and Kasko, 2015). Utilisation of the entire biomass through multiple processes is needed to change the economics (Doherty et al., 2011). ![]() Economic analysis has proven that, in many cases, the use of biomass (such as lignin) for energy applications alone is not economically viable. Fortunately, times are changing, and side and waste streams from both agriculture, and forest sectors are now being considered as crucial feedstocks for the rapidly growing bio-economy (German Bioeconomy Council, 2015). “You can make anything you want out of lignin – except money” is a frequently heard statement in the scientific community or industry (Biofuels Digest, 2011).
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