Bjørn Thorsen secures European distribution rights for Biocomposites by WoodComposites Sweden AB

Copenhagen, 6 May 2024 - We are pleased to announce that Bjørn Thorsen A/S, the mother company of Bjorn Thorsen Ltd., has been granted European distribution rights for the range of Biocomposites, also known as Woodcompounds or Durasense® products, from WoodComposites Sweden AB. The UK affiliate Bjorn Thorsen Ltd will take the opportunity to showcase these materials at the upcoming Plastics Live fair, in June 2024!

Durasense®/Biocomposites is the portfolio of WoodComposites Sweden AB, a company created following Sweden Timber’s acquisition of Stora Enso’s biocomposites business unit at Hyltebruk plant, as announced in September 2023 (full announcement available here). This is a range of bio-based alternatives to conventional polymers, which brings the good moldability of polyolefins together with the strength and sustainability of lignocellulosic fibers, resulting in a global reduced CO2 footprint of up to 80%. These biocomposites are renowned for their exceptional blend of sustainability, strength, and versatility, making it a great addition to Bjørn Thorsen’s circular solutions offering.

Discover the key characteristics of Biocomposites

Sustainability: Biocomposites are made from a blend of natural lignocellulosic feedstock and polymer resins, reducing the reliance on fossil-based materials and promoting a sustainable approach to plastics.

Natural appearance: The lignocellulosic components in Biocomposites provide a natural appearance, making them an attractive choice for applications where aesthetics and eco-friendliness are important, like consumer goods, food packaging, cosmetics, automotive.

High strength: Biocomposites offer excellent mechanical properties, combining the strength of lignocellulosic materials with the durability of plastics, making them suitable for a wide range of applications where toughness is crucial, for instance in building and construction or the automotive industry.

Reduced carbon footprint: Using lignocellulosic fibers as a renewable resource in the manufacturing process helps reduce the overall carbon footprint of products made with Biocomposites from WoodComposites Sweden AB.

Grégory Eldin, Principal Manager for WoodComposites Sweden AB at Bjørn Thorsen A/S, expressed enthusiasm about the expanded collaboration, saying, "Our partnership with WoodComposites Sweden AB reinforces our commitment to providing sustainable solutions for our customers. We are thrilled to extend our cooperation to encompass all of Europe, allowing us to offer their Biocomposites to a broader customer base in areas like cosmetics, reusable food packaging, building & construction, furniture & interior design, consumer goods, automotive and other industries."

The addition of Biocomposites to Bjorn Thorsen’s distribution portfolio will enhance our ability to meet customers’ needs for unique products in terms of functionality, durability, sustainability, design, aesthetics, and many more. Being such a versatile and easy-to-process material, suitable for a wide variety of applications, these Biocomposites can be easily used in combinations with different compounds or modifiers to make sure the end product perfectly matches all customers’ requirements. “We have many success cases of customizing the Biocomposites from WoodComposites Sweden, for instance by 2k molding them with other materials (like customized TPVs) or adding our own TPO compounds to improve the final product’s flexibility, resistance to stress and give it a soft touch, a sought after property in cosmetics, toys or other consumer goods." says Kevin Barthomeuf, CTO of Customized Compound Solutions, part of Bjørn Thorsen Group.

Expansion in Europe

The expansion of the collaboration between Bjørn Thorsen and WoodComposites Sweden AB reinforces our joint missions to provide environmentally friendly and high-quality materials to customers across Europe. "We are confident that there is currently a significant interest in biocomposites throughout Europe, and we are eager to capitalize on this by leveraging our innovative approach to the market. Our long-term pan-European commitment is vital to achieving our growth ambitions and we’re happy to have WoodComposites Sweden AB together with us," concludes Claus Adser, Chairman of the Board.

Biocomposites showcased at Plastics Live fair

On 12-13 June 2024, Bjorn Thorsen will present its distribution portfolio and capabilities at stand H50, at C.B.S Arena in Coventry, UK. Plastics Live is one of the main events of the plastics industry in UK, serving as a business exchange platform and bringing together key industry players in search of high-performance solutions to meet the future challenges of the Plastics Industry. This year, Bjorn Thorsen Ltd. represented by Sales Managers Chris Richmond and Rob Chidlow will be present at this fair as part of PlastikCity pavilion. To schedule a meeting, please contact Chris Richmond at [email protected].

About Bjørn Thorsen: Bjørn Thorsen A/S is a privately-owned distributor, providing a wide range of products from leading chemical manufacturers e.g. BYK, ExxonMobil, Lubrizol, Celanese, Cabot, Sun Chemical, Venator, DRT and others to customers active in diverse end uses in Automotive, Coating, Construction, Industrial, Medical, Consumer, etc. The company offers flexible and efficient logistics services from warehouses in Europe and other locations around the world. For more information regarding the distribution portfolio, visit www.bjorn-thorsen.com.

About WoodComposites Sweden AB: WoodComposites Sweden AB is a manufacturer of woodcompounds and biocomposites. Their innovative materials combine the sustainability of natural wood fibers, from FSC certified Nordic forests with the versatility of polymer resins, offering eco-friendly solutions for various applications in food, packaging, cosmetics, etc.