Boreal Bioproducts, a Finnish startup specialized in using forestry side streams for chemical production, has developed LigNoFog®, the world’s first known consumer product where lignin is the primary component. LigNoFog® is a 100% bio-based anti-fog coating, designed to keep swim goggles and diving masks clear. Only a limited number of units will be produced, and the product will be available in selected sports and swimming gear stores.
The innovative product launched by the Finnish startup marks the first known use of lignin, historically a forestry byproduct, as the main ingredient of a consumer product.
Tested by competitive swimmers and local swimming groups, LigNoFog® is simple to apply in its spray form and has proven to be effective. Unlike traditional anti-fog sprays, which rely on synthetic chemicals, LigNoFog® is completely bio-based, making it a safer, more eco-friendly option.
“The experience was very positive,” said Niko Hämäläinen, elite swimming performance manager at Cetus, who tested the product with his team. “The product was easy to use and performed exceptionally well in real conditions. I believe that competitive swimmers will continue using this product in the future.”
The product is powered by SOLV™ technology, a method invented by Dr Alexander Henn, R&D Manager at Boreal Bioproducts. This allows lignin to mix well with water while maintaining its natural ability to block UV rays and act as an antioxidant. Unlike many industrial lignins, this is free from chemical modifications and impurities. Because of its amphiphilicity and compatibility in water-based systems, it can be used in various applications where lignin was previously difficult to integrate.
LigNoFog® is designed, developed and manufactured in Finland by Boreal Bioproducts, using sustainable sourced spruce lignin from sawdust, a by-product of the wood industry. This waste-to-value innovation reduces reliance on fossil-based materials while delivering high-performance results. This product signifies the start of Boreal Bioproduct’s initiative to help the industry shift toward sustainability.
“Consumers today are more environmentally conscious than ever, and governments are pushing for stricter sustainability rules,” said Marja Jaurakkajärvi, CCO at Boreal Bioproducts. “Industries need to move away from fossil-based raw materials toward renewable, biodegradable alternatives. At Boreal Bioproducts, we’re bringing forest-based materials into the market—this time, quite literally, right in front of consumers’ eyes.”
LigNoFog® is available in a limited first batch, sold exclusively at select sports and swimming gear retailers, and select online shops.
For more information about LigNoFog, please visit https://www.borealbioproducts.com/lignin
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