In partnership with several industrialists, the Grenoble INP Foundation has just launched a teaching and research chair dedicated to the design of new cellulose-based materials for the packaging industry. Called Cellulose Valley, this chair is located in Grenoble INP-Pagora, the school of paper, printed communication and biomaterials, and at the Paper Process Engineering Laboratory (LGP2).
Its program aims to develop actions around the valorization of cellulose in the field of packaging and its entire value chain, including student projects on the site, actions towards associations and external students and teaching actions.
For at least four years, the Cellulose Valley Chair will be supported by the packaging manufacturer DS Smith Packaging France, the paper manufacturer Ahlstrom Munksjö, the company specializing in molded cellulose Alphaform of the Guillin Group and the company Citeo, which specializes in the recycling of household packaging and graphic paper.
"The objective is to develop new packaging from cellulose, some of which may represent alternatives to plastics. We already have plans to finance two theses, a post-doctorate and about twenty master's degree courses", underlines Julien Bras, holder of the Cellulose Valley Chair, teacher at Grenoble INP - Pagora and researcher at LGP2.
Cellulose Valley will also create pedagogical and academic resources for engineering students and will promote exchanges and reflections on cellulose and its use between partner companies, engineering students, doctoral students and Masters students of Grenoble INP.
