In her doctoral thesis, Abirami Senthil investigated how cellulose-based foams can be developed into functional and sustainable alternatives to fossil-based packaging materials.
15 June 2026
Cellulose foam can replace fossil-based packaging materials
Materials used in packaging are often made from fossil-based plastics that are difficult to recycle and contribute to growing amounts of waste. Researchers at Luleå University of Technology are demonstrating how cellulose-based foams can be developed into more functional and sustainable alternatives.
“Cellulose is a renewable material with properties that make it attractive for new types of packaging and other advanced applications,” says Abirami Senthil, an industrial PhD student in biochemical process engineering at Luleå University of Technology.
From cellulose fiber to functional materials
In her dissertation, Engineering Bioactive Cellulose Foams, she investigates how cellulose fibers can be modified to give the materials new properties, such as antibacterial effects, antioxidant functions, and improved moisture management.
The work focuses on cellulose foams—lightweight, porous materials that can be used as alternatives to, for example, polystyrene-based foams. To give the materials more functions, various surface modifications and enzymatic processes have been tested.
“We have investigated how fiber quality, surface treatments, and the manufacturing process itself affect the material’s structure and function,” says Abirami Senthil.
Bioactive properties without harsh chemicals
An important part of the research involves developing methods based on biological processes and low-toxicity chemicals. Among other things, lignin and enzymatic treatments are used to create materials with active properties.
The results show that the materials can inhibit bacterial growth, scavenge free radicals, and simultaneously maintain their structure and stability.
“The goal has been to create materials that work in practice while making the processes more sustainable,” she says.
From the laboratory to a larger scale
The dissertation also examines how manufacturing works when the process is moved from a laboratory environment to a pilot scale.
The results show that several of the materials’ properties can be retained even when production is scaled up, despite conditions becoming less controlled than in the laboratory.
“It’s important to understand what happens when you move from small-scale experiments to larger-scale production,” says Abirami Senthil.
Can reduce dependence on fossil-based plastics
The work demonstrates how bio-based materials can be developed for applications where fossil-based foams currently dominate.
By combining renewable raw materials with functional properties, opportunities are opened up for materials that are both easier to recycle and better suited to future sustainability requirements.
“We need materials that not only work technically but also fit into a more circular system,” says Abirami Senthil.
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