Production of biofibers, biofiber paper and molded fiber products from residues of biogas production.

GNS - Gesellschaft für Nachhaltige Stoffnutzung mbH

Halle (Saale) · VorwerkNew on Amplifa

1998Founded

up to 36,000 t/yearBiofiber production capacity

About GNS - Gesellschaft für Nachhaltige Stoffnutzung mbH

GNS - Gesellschaft für Nachhaltige Stoffnutzung mbH was founded in 1998 on the initiative of the Fördergemeinschaft Ökologische Stoffverwertung e.V. Halle (FÖST) and develops sustainable material utilization technologies up to industrial maturity. Under the Magaverde brand, the company produces biofibers from digestate from biogas production (biogas grass fibers), which are technically similar to cellulose and can be processed with up to 100 % content on paper machines and molded fiber machines. From these, papers and cardboard of various thicknesses in sheet and roll form, packaging solutions and molded fiber products such as plant pots, transport trays and mulch mats for agriculture and horticulture are produced. The products are compostable, recyclable and free of microplastics. Fiber production takes place in cooperation with the BENAS biogas plant in Vorwerk; production capacity is up to 36,000 tonnes of biofibers per year. The range of services extends from research and recipe development through technology development to the marketing and licensing of the plant technology.

Site: Halle (Saale)
Processes: Paper production (papers of various thicknesses, sheet and roll goods), Molded fiber (molded fiber products, plant pots, transport trays, mulch mats, mulch discs), Fiber preparation (biofibers up to 100 % content on paper machines and molded fiber machines), Printability/print tests of biofiber paper (sustainable bio-inks, industrial print tests), Surface treatment (surface lamination and sizing without chemical additives,, Screen printing (industrial, project partner Freudenberg Industrie Siebdruck), 3D printing of insulation elements from biogenic fiber paste (biopaste made from Magaverde, Consulting and technology/knowledge transfer
Materials: Magaverde biofibers, Biofiber paper, Biogas fibers (residues/fibers from biogas plant, digestate), Cellulose (technically similar), Magaverde Biofibers, Biogas fibers (digestate), Molded fiber, Surface treatment
Certificates: Recyclability of packaging material (PTS RH 021/97, Category II), Harmlessness of food secondary packaging, Compostability demonstrated, Recyclability of packaging material (PTS RH 021/97, Cat. II), ISEGA harmlessness (food secondary packaging)
Founded: 1998
Industries: Paper industry, Nonwovens, Molded fiber, Packaging, Agriculture, Horticulture

01
Digestate processing in the biogas plant (BENAS)
02
Fiber preparation (wet refining)
03
Paper and cardboard production
04
Molded fiber
05
Finishing (surface treatment, printing)
06
Marketing, consulting and licensing

Materials and Processes

BIOF

Magaverde Biofibers

Biogenic fibers from digestate of biogas production, processable with up to 100 % content on paper and molded fiber machines.

BG-F

Biogas fibers (digestate)

Residues of agricultural biomass from the biogas plant as raw material for paper and molded fiber.

BFP

Biofiber paper

Paper of various thicknesses in sheet and roll form, compostable and certified as recyclable packaging material.

Molded fiber

Process for producing plant pots, transport trays and mulch mats from biofibers.

OBB

Surface treatment

Surface lamination and sizing without chemical additives to improve printability.

3DP

3D printing of biopaste

Fiber material as a paste-like, compostable biopaste for insulation elements in construction (research context).

Locations

Halle (Saale)

Company headquarters, sales and development

Materials: Biofibers, biofiber paper

Vorwerk

BENAS biogas plant – production of biofibers and biofiber paper (partner)

Materials: Biogas fibers, biofiber paper

Paper machine
Wet refiner

Molded fiber production

Production of molded fiber products

Materials: Magaverde biofibers

Molded fiber machine

Industries

Paper industryNonwovensMolded fiberPackagingAgricultureHorticultureViticulture/fruit growingArt supplies/paper goodsConstruction (3D-printed insulation material, research)

Processes & technical limits

Processes	Tolerance	Max. part	Weight	Lot size	Materials
Paper production (papers of various thicknesses, sheet and roll goods)Paper/fiber processing	–	–	–	up to 36,000 tonnes per year	Magaverde biofibers, Biogas fibers (residues of biogas production)
Molded fiber (molded fiber products, plant pots, transport trays, mulch mats, mulch discs)Paper/fiber processing	–	–	–	–	Magaverde biofibers
Fiber preparation (biofibers up to 100 % content on paper machines and molded fiber machines)Paper/fiber processing	–	–	–	up to 36,000 tonnes per year	Magaverde biofibers
Printability/print tests of biofiber paper (sustainable bio-inks, industrial print tests)Surface	–	–	–	–	Biofiber paper
Surface treatment (surface lamination and sizing without chemical additives,Surface	–	–	–	–	Biofiber paper
Screen printing (industrial, project partner Freudenberg Industrie Siebdruck)Surface	–	–	–	–	Paper/film
3D printing of insulation elements from biogenic fiber paste (biopaste made from MagaverdeAdditive	–	–	–	–	Magaverde biofiber (biopaste)

3 Anlagen & Maschinen

Machine	Manufacturer / model	Quantity	Working area	Year built	Site
Paper machine	–	–	–	–	BENAS (production of biofibers and biofiber paper)
Molded fiber machine	–	–	–	–	–
Wet refiner (fiber preparation)	–	–	–	–	–

Additional services

Consulting and technology/knowledge transferProduction of biofibersPaper and cardboard production (sheet and roll goods)Molded fiber products (plant pots, trays, mulch mats)Packaging solutions including individually printableLicensing of the plant technologyDevelopment/optimization of recipes and surface treatment (project context)

Reference customers

Winzervereinigung Freyburg-Unstrut (mulch mat pilot project)French winegrowers (project partner wine/sparkling wine packaging)

Quality

The biofiber paper is certified as recyclable packaging material (PTS RH 021/97, Category II); compostability has been demonstrated. ISEGA has confirmed the harmlessness of paper and cardboard for secondary packaging in the food sector.

Evidence	Halle (Saale)
Recyclability of packaging material (PTS RH 021/97, Cat. II)
ISEGA harmlessness (food secondary packaging)
Compostability demonstrated

History

1998
Founding of GNS - Gesellschaft für Nachhaltige Stoffnutzung mbH in March 1998 on the initiative of the Fördergemeinschaft Ökologische Stoffverwertung e.V. Halle (FÖST).
2020
Compostability of the biofiber paper demonstrated; recyclability certification (PMV-21-085).
2021
Start of the BMBF-funded joint project 'Sustainably printable and microstructurable biofiber paper' (Magaverde/Biodruck) in the GRAVOmer network, 07/2021–06/2023.
2021
Experience exchange between German and French winegrowers on mulch mats (30/31.10.2021).
2023
Project completion of Magaverde/Biodruck (June 2023).