Center for bio-based materials

ZBM Center for bio-based materials stands for innovative use of wood and sustainable management

The scientific institution at TH Rosenheim mediates between research, industry and society. “Our goal is to make a significant contribution to environmental protection and thus to shape the lives and work of all people in a sustainable manner.” The dedicated team of professors, scientists, engineers and students is funded by the Free State of Bavaria and supports partners from business in the areas of research and development.

Research focus on wood-based bioeconomy

The research focus on wood-based bioeconomy at TH Rosenheim is interdisciplinary, cross-faculty and cross-location. He deals with the use of wood, as well as the mechanical, chemical and biotechnological breakdown of the raw material. In this way, new products are obtained and their further processing is researched.

The primary goal is the cascading use of wood

Wood offers a wide range of possibilities for producing intermediate and end products within extensive usage cascades. You can find out more about this and how local raw materials can be used even better to counteract global warming in an interview with Veronika Auer.  The entire episode of the “Our Country” series is available in the Bayerischer Rundfunk media library. It includes other exciting topics such as “Houses made of beetle wood” or “Pros & Cons - Alternative tree species for Bavaria”. Click here to go to the video (in german).

We are involved in publicly funded research projects and are available to industrial companies - even outside of funded projects - to research new applications. We offer external partners, employees and scientists a wide range of services. This includes the following specialist areas:

Chemical wood technology

• Wood pulping
• Wood fiber modification
• Lignin modification

Circular economy

• Sustainability assessment
• Availability assessment
• Circular economy, including recycling concepts

Wood is considered the most important domestic, renewable raw material in Germany. It does not compete directly or indirectly with food or feed. Due to its versatility, wood, especially as a material, provides multiple starting points for economic consideration and use. The research focus (FSP) wood-based bioeconomy at TH Rosenheim is interdisciplinary, cross-faculty and cross-location. He deals with the material use of wood as well as the mechanical, chemical and biotechnological breakdown of the raw material.

Wood offers the potential for producing products with a high level of added value, as well as low fossil resource intensity and high CO2 reduction potential. The wood-based bioeconomy makes a significant contribution to the climate neutrality by 2050 announced by the federal government and Bavaria.

The FSP “Wood-based bioeconomy” is therefore funded by the Free State of Bavaria and works closely with partners from business and research. The FSP is part of the Bioeconomy and Wood Technology research area at Rosenheim University of Technology. The project team consists of experts in wood technology, plastics technology, industrial engineering, chemical engineering and materials science.

The Center for Bio-based Materials is responsible for coordinating the individual sub-areas. The FSP deals with the development of innovative materials and the material use of wood in several collaborative sub-projects. The ultimate goal of all research work is always to implement cascading wood use.

Therefore, considerations of the recyclability of new developments and the focus on a circular economy are always part of the entire project.