Hexion, a global leader in adhesives, systems, and AI technologies for wood panel manufacturing, today announced a partnership with Bloom Biorenewables, a Swiss startup that has developed a breakthrough method for preserving the natural adhesive properties of lignin. Together, the companies aim to commercialize a renewable, high-performance alternative to synthetic adhesives—once thought to be beyond the reach of modern science.
Bloom has developed a unique and cost-effective process for extracting native lignin, a naturally occurring adhesive found in wood, while maintaining its chemical structure. This is a significant scientific achievement: traditional methods for isolating lignin typically cause it to condense, destroying the reactive groups responsible for its adhesive strength and rendering it unsuitable for industrial use. Bloom’s method uses low-cost aldehydes during the extraction process to protect these critical chemical groups. As a result, the company can recover high-quality, uncondensed lignin at commercial scale—an industry first.
This innovation opens the door to a new class of 100% plant-based adhesives that combine strong bonding performance while also being environmentally friendly. Not only are these adhesives safer for people and the planet, but they also help manufacturers extract up to 80% more value from the same wood feedstock by using parts of the tree that would otherwise be wasted.
“For decades, the industry has operated under the assumption that strong performance and full renewability couldn’t coexist in wood adhesives. This partnership shatters that assumption,” said Michael Lefenfeld, President and CEO of Hexion. “By combining Bloom’s breakthrough in lignin science with Hexion’s industrial and AI-enhanced manufacturing expertise, we’re not just offering a new product—we’re opening a new chapter for our industry.”
The partnership between Hexion and Bloom is focused on one final critical step: enabling manufacturing-ready, adhesive-grade lignin through a scalable method that activates lignin’s evolved functionality without additional chemicals. This effort represents a transformative leap in bio-based manufacturing—replacing fossil-derived resins with sustainable, high-performance alternatives made entirely from wood.
“This collaboration is a welcome disruption,” added Lorenz Manker, Chief Commercial Officer at Bloom Biorenewables. “With Hexion, we’re proving that it’s possible to build adhesives that are both powerful and 100% bio-based. What was once considered a scientific curiosity is now on the verge of changing how wood panels are made—forever.”
