CelluComp expands to US with its first commercial facility in Minnesota

USA – Scotland-based CelluComp, a pioneer in sustainable fiber-based packaging materials, is making its U.S. debut with a commercial-scale production facility in Renville, Minnesota.

The 15,000-square-foot facility will begin operations in May. It will manufacture the company’s patented micro-fibrillated cellulose product, Curran, a natural alternative to plastic and PFAS chemicals in packaging.

Curran is derived from cellulose extracted from the residual pulp of root vegetables like sugar beets.

This plant-based innovation is a barrier ingredient in biodegradable fiber packaging, offering a promising solution to growing global concerns over microplastics and chemical contamination.

The Renville site was chosen strategically because it is just under a mile away from the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative.

The cooperative will supply up to 7,000 tons of sugar beet pulp for the plant’s initial production of 800 tons of Curran. Production is expected to scale to 2,800 dry tons next year, using 24,000 tons of wet beet pulp.

The product will be shipped to worldwide manufacturers transitioning to sustainable packaging.

“Following years of research and planning around the globe, we landed on Minnesota and the community of Renville as the key to our future in providing the world with a proven PFAS-free fiber-based barrier packaging solution,” said Christian Kemp-Griffin, CEO of CelluComp.

Support from local and state entities has played a vital role in the expansion. Key partners include the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the University of Minnesota, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), Beaver Creek Transport, and city officials. The City of Renville also awarded CelluComp a US$3,000 Business Innovation Grant.

“Having a global business like CelluComp expand in Renville is a huge win for our community,” said Renville Mayor David Van Hove, Jr.

“We welcome creative businesses like this that see the potential of what rural Minnesota can provide.”

CelluComp has begun hiring for three full-time and two part-time roles in bioindustry engineering, manufacturing, technology, and supply chain. As operations scale, the company expects to create up to 24 jobs.

Minnesota Senator Andrew Lang praised the investment, noting the state’s growing reputation in ag innovation.

“Minnesota is pleased that CelluComp found a home for their expansion plans in our state,” he said. “This is a major step forward in eliminating PFAS in our product stream.”

Beyond Curran, the company aims for full circularity: by-products from the process will be used locally as animal feed, fertilizer, and biogas, helping divert up to 80,000 tons of sugar beet waste annually from low-value use.

In 2023, CelluComp partnered with global packaging producer RyPax to develop the world’s first all-fiber bottle.

The two companies are now developing compact fiber bottles for events and conferences, a move poised to disrupt the single-use plastic market.

CelluComp’s entry into the U.S. market marks a significant step in scaling sustainable packaging innovation and bolstering rural bioindustry development.

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