A newly granted FORMAS project, Furfural from Seaweed to Wood Floor Coating, will develop a fully biobased wood floor varnish made from Swedish sugar kelp. The initiative brings together Lund University, Bona AB, Manatee Biomaterials and Axfoundation to create next-generation sustainable polymers from marine biomass.

The project converts sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) into furfural, a key biobased chemical that can be transformed into high-performance monomers and polymers. The first demonstrator will be an aesthetic, durable wooden floor coating designed to replace fossil-based alternatives.

"This project starts from a real market need and builds the value chain backwards," says project leader Josefin Ahlqvist, Lund University. "By transforming seaweed into advanced polymers, we aim to enable entirely new, climate-friendly material flows."

A climate-positive raw material

Sugar kelp grows rapidly, requires no land, freshwater or fertilizers, and improves marine environments by absorbing excess nutrients. Using biotechnology and green chemistry, the project will:

• develop methods to convert alginate to furfural

• produce biobased monomers and polymers for coating applications

• create a proof-of-concept wood floor varnish

• generate knowledge and value chains that can scale to sectors such as textiles, automotive and plastics

Industry-driven collaboration

Bona will lead product formulation and testing, while Axfoundation coordinates a reference group of industrial stakeholders with interest in algae-based materials. The project supports several FORMAS priorities, including sustainable production and consumption, climate innovation and circular value chains.