Latvian State Forest Research Institute 'Silava' has launched a research project Waste-free recycling of coniferous green biomass in a biodegradable planter container system, aimed at developing an innovative solution for the zero-waste processing of green needle biomass and its use in the production of biodegradable seedling frames and container systems.
The Study will assess the potential of using a forestry by-product – green needle biomass – as a sustainable raw material for developing new, environmentally friendly products. This approach could help promote the principles of the circular economy by reducing waste while simultaneously creating added value from forest resources. At the same time, the biodegradable seedling container system being developed could eventually provide an alternative to conventional plastic seedling containers.
The Study continues the activities of LSFRI 'Silava' in exploring the potential of green needle biomass and promoting more efficient use of natural resources. In a previous research project Full-cycle processing of coniferous green biomass for the extraction of high-value raw materials for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, the potential for extracting high-value naturally derived substances from needle biomass was assessed, contributing to the development of new bioeconomy solutions.