MONTREAL, June 23, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Resolute Forest Products Inc.
(NYSE: RFP) (TSX: RFP) today announced the launch of a new research and
development joint venture, Performance BioFilaments Inc. Jointly owned
with Mercer International Inc., Performance BioFilaments will work to
develop commercial applications for cellulose filaments, a new source of sustainable biomaterial made from wood fiber that can
improve the strength and durability of many commercial and consumer
products found on the market today.
"Today's launch highlights our ongoing effort to drive innovation in the
forest products industry," said Richard Garneau, President and Chief
Executive Officer. "Resolute will provide funding and expertise to
Performance BioFilaments, supporting the venture's research and
development capabilities that aim to bring sustainable products to a
broad spectrum of industries."
Cellulose filaments are made from wood fiber, one of nature's most
abundant materials, and are used to add strength, stability,
flexibility and longevity to a variety of materials, including cement,
composites and coatings.
"The strength of cellulose filaments can be compared to that of synthetic reinforcement fibers made from
non-renewable petroleum inputs," said Gurminder Minhas, Managing
Director of Performance BioFilaments. "The difference is that cellulose
filaments are entirely renewable, with a very low carbon footprint.
We're thrilled to debut this company with the launch of this kind of
revolutionary product."
Cellulose filaments are adaptable for use in the aviation, marine,
aerospace, electronics, manufacturing and construction sectors, as well
as in paint and consumer products. Their unique, ribbon-like
composition has the potential to improve the quality of various
materials, and the product is considered to have significant cost
advantages compared to alternatives.
FPInnovations Inc., one of Canada's leading scientific organizations
working in forest products research and development, will produce the
material. Performance BioFilaments will have access to all current and
future cellulose filament research being advanced at a third-party mill
in Trois-Rivières, Quebec - the world's first five-metric-ton-per-day
cellulose filament demonstration plant that started up earlier this
year.
For more information, please visit www.performancebiofilaments.com.
About Performance BioFilaments Inc.
Performance BioFilaments Inc., a joint venture between Mercer
International Inc. and Resolute Forest Products, is focused on the
development of commercial applications for cellulose filaments, one of
the world's most exciting new biomaterials. Cellulose filaments can be
used to enhance the performance characteristics of a wide variety of
products. Derived from wood fiber - a renewable natural resource -
cellulose filaments optimize the strength, stability, flexibility, and
longevity of a variety of materials including composites, coatings and
consumer products. For more information, please visit www.performancebiofilaments.com.
About Resolute Forest Products
Resolute Forest Products is a global leader in the forest products
industry with a diverse range of products, including newsprint,
specialty papers, market pulp and wood products. The Company owns or
operates nearly 40 pulp and paper mills and wood products facilities in
the United States, Canada and South Korea, and power generation assets
in Canada. Marketing its products in close to 90 countries, Resolute
has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to at least one
of three internationally recognized sustainable forest management
standards. The shares of Resolute Forest Products trade under the stock
symbol RFP on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock
Exchange.
Resolute and other member companies of the Forest Products Association
of Canada, as well as a number of environmental organizations, are
partners in the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. The group works to
identify solutions to conservation issues that meet the goal of
balancing equally the three pillars of sustainability linked to human
activities: environmental, social and economic.
Resolute is proud to be ranked by Corporate Knights as one
of Canada's Best 50 Corporate Citizens for 2014. Corporate Knights is
an organization recognized globally for its transparent and objective
approach to measuring corporate sustainability performance.
About Mercer International Inc.
Mercer International Inc. ("Mercer") is the world's largest producer of
NBSK market pulp and has become a leader among forest products
companies in embracing the bio-economy. The company has modern,
large-scale pulp mills in both Germany and Canada. Mercer's shares are
listed on the NASDAQ Global Market (MERC) and on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (MRI.U). For more information, please visit www.mercerint.com.
SOURCE Resolute Forest Products Inc.
