A Canadian company making natural nonwoven fibres bought a North Carolina plant from pulp-and-paper giant Georgia-Pacific.
Bast Fibre Technologies Inc. plans to expand the Lumberton Cellulose factory from making wood-pulp-derived hygienic products such as tissues and toilet paper to similar products from hemp and flax.
A purchase price should have been disclosed for the factory in Lumberton, about 80 miles west of Wilmington.
A BFT spokeswoman told Hemp Industry Daily the facility would retain its 25 or so employees and transition them to working with hemp and flax.
“What this does is bring some sustainable supply for North American hemp growers,” Larisa Harrison said.
BFT has been working with Georgia-Pacific for some time. Two years ago, BFT licensed patents relating to bast fibres in various nonwoven products and processes from Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products.
Bast fibre comes from the inner bark of the best family group of plants, including hemp, flax, jute and kenaf. Nonwoven materials are made with fibres bonded with chemicals, solvents or heat.
BFT is based in Victoria, British Columbia, and is privately held.
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