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What is

Cellulose Acetate?

Cellulose acetate belongs to the man-made cellulosics, like e.g. viscose. It is made from the natural biopolymer Cellulose by modification with acetic acid, the main component of vinegar.

It is a versatile material that can be used to produce products used in our daily life: consumer products, eyewear, textiles, cosmetics, filtration etc. 

Cellulose acetate is biodegradable in a large variety of environments.

Cellulose Acetate has unique properties 
for various technical applications

Cellulose Acetate specific properties

 

  • Provides a unique “natural” feel.

  • Cellulose Acetate is compatible with a number of biobased, biodegradable and non-toxic plasticizers if needed for an application.

  • Allows selective filtration of certain toxic substances like phenols.

  • Can be processed with (eco)toxicologically harmless solvents, low temperatures in solvent processes allow temperature sensitive additives.

  • Softens at significantly higher temperature than other man made biobased and biodegradable polymers.

  • Excellent transparency, films easy to cut, breathability to moisture vapor.

Sustainable Manufacturing of Cellulose Acetate

It all starts with wood from sustainably managed forests.

Starting material is wood pulp of high purity (> 96 % α-cellulose).

Produced from trees grown in sustainably managed forests (PEFC and FSC) and not genetically modified.

The wood pulp used is manufactured from hard or soft wood of different origin.

Cellulose Acetate 

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 Nature-based and biodegradable

The Cellulose Acetate Life Cycle

Wood pulp as a basic raw material is sourced from sustainably managed forests.

Through raw material efficient, circular production processes, wood pulp is converted into cellulose acetate.

Depending on the use case, the final product biologically degrades, nourishing plants and trees again.

Cellulose Acetate is sustainable and versatile

Biodegradable under various environmental conditions.

Made from nature-based raw materials manufactured using material efficient circular principles.

Versatile for many different applications

Cellulose Acetate can be used in the form of fibres, films and powders, and processed thermoplastically through the use of plasticizers. 

Its compatibility with many environmentally friendly plasticisers opens up many other possible applications.

Cellulose Acetate: A nature-based alternative to exclusively fossil-fuel based plastics.

The Versatility of Cellulose Acetate

 

Biodegradability of Cellulose Acetate

  • Cellulose diacetate, the most common form of cellulose acetate, is proven biodegradable in natural environments and waste management systems.

  • Biodegradation takes place at reasonable rates, even compared to purely natural materials, enabling corresponding certificates and use-case specific exemptions from the Microplastic Restriction.

Cellulose Acetate

  • Is produced using a renewable raw material base.

  • Is bio-based and can contribute to defossilizing polymer value chains and reducing fossil feedstock consumption.

  • Is produced using material-efficient and circular production processes. 

  • Biodegrades under a variety of environmental conditions.