A new manufacturing process using organic fibres to make planks for shipping pallets, developed by Biofiba Limited, based at Gosford, NSW, has been awarded funding of up to $1.97 million from CSIRO’s Australian Growth Partnership (AGP).

 

Wooden pallets take up a large slice of the world’s timber consumption. While there are several environmentally sustainable processes being developed, most export pallets are used once and then consigned to landfill where they slowly decompose.

 

The AGP program – funded through the Federal Government’s extension to the CSIRO’s Flagship initiatives – offers  funding to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in areas of national priority. The program offers between $500,000 and $2 million per SME and allows businesses to purchase CSIRO research and development capability.

 

Announcing the funding, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said Biofiba’s technology said pallets made from Biofiba composites will break down into natural matter – delivering significant environmental advantages over traditional wooden pallets.

 

CSIRO will fund a collaboration through its Future Manufacturing Flagship to tailor the material formulation and high speed production.