British Columbia has no shortage of wood—but much of what is harvested never reaches a mill. At the same time, industries worldwide are searching for practical alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia believe these two challenges could help solve each other.
Dr. Feng Jiang, an associate professor in UBC’s Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship and Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Functional Biomaterials, is transforming discarded forest material into products with applications across packaging, construction, clothing, and other industries.
At the centre of the research is cellulose, the structural material found in plants. Jiang’s laboratory extracts it from softwoods such as spruce, pine, and fir before engineering it into new materials designed to compete with conventional plastics.
One result is a lightweight, biodegradable biofoam that could replace expanded polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam. The process uses forest residue as a raw material while minimizing water consumption and chemical inputs. According to Innovation UBC, the resulting foam is compostable and can break down in soil within weeks.
The technology is also moving beyond the laboratory.
Through a collaboration between UBC and Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership, which represents the economic development interests of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, a pilot operation is advancing the material under the name DicinFoam. “Dicin” means wood in the Wet’suwet’en language.
The partnership combines materials research with Indigenous economic development, including the potential for local employment, training, and new manufacturing activity connected to B.C.’s forestry sector.
Jiang’s team is also exploring how cellulose could reduce the fashion industry’s reliance on polyester, nylon, and other plastic-based fibres. Working with Kwantlen Polytechnic University researcher Stephanie Phillips, the team is testing a cleaner, rayon-like fibre by spinning it into yarn and then knitting, weaving, washing, and dyeing it to determine how it performs in real clothing.
Another promising material is an elastic cellulose aerogel. Light, resilient, and biodegradable, the aerogel could provide a greener alternative to polystyrene insulation used to transport food, vaccines, and other temperature-sensitive products. The technology became the foundation of Baerfell Advanced Materials, a UBC spin-off launched in 2025.
Together, these projects point to a larger opportunity for British Columbia: turning underused forestry residue into higher-value products while building a more circular, bio-based economy.
Innovation UBC is helping connect the research with industry collaborators, commercialization pathways, and company-building support.
Read Innovation UBC’s full feature article to learn more about Jiang’s research, the partnerships bringing these materials to market, and how wood waste could become one of B.C.’s most valuable sustainable resources.
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