University of British Columbia (Canada)

University of British Columbia - BioProducts Institute

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. A world-leading centre of teaching, learning and research excellence, UBC transforms personal initiative into innovation, and new ideas into impact.

One of UBC's leading research centres, the BioProducts Institute (BPI), is an innovative ecosystem of high-impact fundamental and applied researchers working on solutions to today’s climate and environmental challenges. The Institute brings together inter- and multi-disciplinary researchers comprised of scientists, engineers, and market and policy experts to unlock the full potential of materials, chemicals and fuels produced in nature. Based on the guiding principles of circularity, sustainability and renewability, BPI seeks to reduce society’s footprint and tackle rampant environmental challenges such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and plastic waste.  

In 2023/2024, the Eurofins Foundation is contributing to the BPI’s research on Advancing Sustainable Energy Storage with Bioproduct Materials: A Path Towards Cleaner Energy in British Columbia. 

Traditional energy storage materials used in batteries often come from fossil fuels, which can harm the environment during the extraction process and as they degrade. By using bioproducts, particularly lignin derived from plants, BPI aims to create energy storage materials that are not only effective but also kind to our planet.

Lignin, a natural material found in plants, possesses unique properties that make it an ideal candidate for energy storage components. It's abundant, environmentally friendly, and has qualities like thermal stability and biodegradability. However, its potential has been largely untapped, with only a small fraction of useful products leveraging it.

BPI aims to transform lignin from bark residues, a byproduct of industries like paper manufacturing, into powerful energy storage components. The project will also study the physicochemical properties of these components, comparing them to traditional fossil-based materials. BPI aims to integrate these lignin-based materials into supercapacitors and battery cells, evaluating their performance and effectiveness.

These projects contribute to the following United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals