Georgia-Pacific, a giant in the paper-manufacturing industry, is partnering with a Canadian firm that uses hemp-based fibers for a variety of nonwoven products.
Victoria, British Columbia-based Bast Fibre Technologies announced the agreement with Georgia-Pacific on Tuesday. BFT makes baby wipes and other personal-care fiber products.
The company said the agreement involves a suite of patents for the application in a variety of plant-based bast fibers in nonwoven products.
Under license from Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific, BFT will develop, process, and market sustainable nonwoven fibers “to lead the industry in the transition away from synthetic materials toward all-natural, better performing solutions,” according to a statement.
Bast fiber, also called phloem fiber, comes from the inner bark of the bast family group of plants, including hemp, flax, jute and kenaf.
Georgia-Pacific, a privately held subsidiary of Koch Industries, produced such brands as Brawny paper towels and Quilted Northern toilet paper.
