Bark beetles have devastated forests across Sweden and Europe since the hot summer of 2018. Sweden alone loses approximately 10 million cubic meters of timber annually, while Europe experiences roughly 100 million cubic meters in yearly damage. Currently, almost all affected wood is burned at minimal value.
Researchers Joseph Samec and Aji Mathew at Stockholm University, leading a project funded by Region Stockholm, Stockholm University, and Mistra SafeChem, have discovered a promising alternative use. Their recent scientific publication demonstrates that bark-beetle-damaged wood can generate high-quality fiber suitable for replacing cotton in healthcare applications.
The process yields two valuable products: textile fiber for healthcare use and environmentally friendly chemicals for industrial applications or biofuel production. According to Samec, “the environmental impact of the generated fibre from bark-beetle-damaged wood was significantly lower than cotton regarding water consumption, climate change, land use and resource use.”
If implemented across Europe, the technology could produce 15 million tons of textile fiber and 4 million tons of green chemicals annually. This represents approximately 60 percent of current cotton production, potentially freeing 20 million hectares of agricultural land for food production without felling additional trees.
The collaborative research involves partners including Mellanskog, Sodersjukhuset, Aditya Birla Group, and multiple universities across Europe.