UBCO researchers apply body preservation technique to wood

Researchers test plastination to improve cedar strength and sustainability

University of British Columbia Okanagan campus

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UBC’s Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability is one of several buildings on the Vancouver campus where Western red cedar is used as a building material. Researchers at the Okanagan campus are looking at ways to make the wood stronger by using a plastination preservation technique. Don Erhardt.

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Credit: Don Erhardt, UBC

A technique used for the long-term preservation of human and animal remains is now being tested on one of Canada’s most iconic building materials—the Western red cedar.

Plastination, originally designed to embalm the dead, is now being used to improve the functionality and durability of advanced composite materials.

A team from UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering has been experimenting with the technique and previously published a study that examined the plastination of bamboo to create a strong and durable composite building material.

The researchers have taken that work one step further, and in their latest study demonstrated the technique can also be used on Western red cedar to make it stronger and protect the wood from water damage and decay. The study was published in the journal Materials.

“Western red cedar is prized for its abundance and renewability, though its tendency to absorb moisture is a major drawback,” says doctoral student Olivia Margoto, a researcher with UBC’s Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute. “By applying plastination, we’re preserving the wood’s structure from the inside out—maintaining its strength while dramatically improving its resistance to water.”

Plastination is a new method for managing moisture in wood by replacing water in the cellular structure with a silicone compound to create a durable, hydrophobic barrier that resists swelling, rotting and cracking.

Unlike conventional wood protection treatments—which typically rely on surface coatings, bulk impregnation or chemical treatments—plastination offers a fundamentally different approach by first dehydrating the wood using acetone and infusing it with a compatible polymer.

This replaces water within the cells and preserves the anatomical architecture previously occupied by moisture, explains study supervisor Dr. Abbas Milani, Professor in the School of Engineering. Most importantly, the treatment does not compromise tensile strength and tends to improve the material’s flexibility.

“Plastination offers a powerful alternative to traditional wood preservatives, which often rely on toxic chemicals or short-lived coatings,” adds Dr. Milani. “This technique could extend the lifespan of natural wood products significantly, without sacrificing environmental performance.”

In their recent work, the researchers used advanced imaging and spectroscopy tools to confirm that the silicone deeply saturated the cedar’s microscopic channels, reducing water absorption by nearly 60 per cent and increasing surface hydrophobicity by more than 45 per cent.

They found that Western red cedar performed better than their earlier work on bamboo, likely because of the very different microstructure of these two natural materials. Western red cedar is a softwood composed of long, thin cells with microstructural dimensions up to seven times smaller than those of bamboo.

The research is supported by industrial partner NetZero Enterprises Inc., a Penticton-based company with a number of global sustainability projects underway. The company is collaborating on three projects with UBC researchers, and holds the Canadian and American patents on the plastination technique.

Other researchers on this project include Netzero Enterprises CEO Grant Bogyo and UBCO students Madisyn Szypula and Victor Yang.

This process shows significant moisture resistance in Western red cedar, which is encouraging for North American construction applications. Future work will explore ways to scale up the method, recover and reuse solvents, and substitute bio-based polymers for silicone to further reduce environmental impact.

“Nature has already given us incredible materials,” Margoto adds. “Our job is to make them last longer in a safe, sustainable and economical way.”

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Journal

Materials

DOI

10.3390/ma18184353 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Towards a New Plastination Technique for Moisture Management of Western Red Cedar Without Loss of Strength and with Enhanced Stability

 

Bamboo tissue paper may not be as eco-friendly as you think

North Carolina State University

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In recent years, Chinese tissue paper made from bamboo has emerged as a trendy choice for eco-friendly shoppers. However, new research suggests these bamboo paper products may not offer significant climate benefits over tissue produced in the United States and, in some cases, may be more detrimental to the environment.

The findings are detailed in a new paper from North Carolina State University researchers, which compared the carbon footprint of bamboo tissue paper manufactured in China with that of conventional tissue paper manufactured in the U.S. and Canada. The researchers found that, while using bamboo biomass itself did not produce more greenhouse gases than traditional wood, the fossil fuel-heavy power grid in China led to significant increases in emissions compared with cleaner fuel sources used in North America.

“As far as emissions go, the technology used to create hygiene tissue paper is far more important than the type of fiber it’s made from,” said Naycari Forfora, lead author of the study and Ph.D candidate in the NC State College of Natural Resources. “Because the Chinese power grid is so reliant on coal for power, emissions throughout the entire tissue supply chain are higher than what we saw with the wood-based option.”

Ronalds Gonzalez, an associate professor at NC State University and co-author of the paper, said that manufacturing tissue paper from bamboo is not meaningfully different from using other wood sources.

“Bamboo is a crop like any other, and it goes through the same production processes as Brazilian or Canadian wood,” Gonzalez said. “Consumers often think of bamboo as a ‘tree-free’ option, but the trees used to make tissue are planted and harvested the same way that bamboo is. When you then factor in how coal-reliant the Chinese mills are, you start to see how emissions from this product are actually higher than others.”

Researchers found that Chinese bamboo tissue was responsible for nearly 2,400 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per ton of tissue produced, compared to 1,824 kgCO2eq/ton for wood-based U.S. tissue. Chinese bamboo also underperformed in several environmental categories, including smog formation, respiratory effects and ecotoxicity. Of note, these differences largely disappeared when bamboo production occurred in areas with clean electrical grids, reinforcing the finding that technological improvements are significantly more impactful than a change in fiber type when developing decarbonization strategies.

The authors are members of the Sustainable & Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI) at NC State, the world’s largest coalition dedicated to advancing knowledge on the sustainability of both conventional and alternative fibers. SAFI brings together more than 30 local and global partners from industry, academia, and government to collaboratively drive innovation and responsible fiber development.

The paper, “Comparative life cycle assessment of bamboo-containing and wood-based hygiene tissue: Implications of fiber sourcing and conversion technologies,” is published in Cleaner Environmental Systems. Co-authors include Rhonald Ortega, Isabel Urdaneta, Ivana Azuaje, Keren A. Vivas, Hasan Jameel, and Richard Venditti of NC State.

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Note to editors: The abstract of the paper follows.

Comparative life cycle assessment of bamboo-containing and wood-based hygiene tissue: Implications of fiber sourcing and conversion technologies

Authors: Naycari Forfora, Ronalds Gonzalez, Rhonald Ortega, Isabel Urdaneta, Ivana Azuaje, Keren A. Vivas, Hasan Jameel, and Richard Venditti of NC State

Published: Sep. 23 in Advanced Functional Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.cesys.2025.100337                 

Abstract: This study assesses the environmental impact of producing consumer bath tissue (CBT) in the United States using Brazilian bleached eucalyptus kraft (BEK) and Canadian northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) market pulps, in comparison to bamboo-based CBT from China. Additionally, the analysis includes considerations of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration from plant growth, and the biogenic global warming potential (GWPbio) based on biomass rotation periods.

Results indicate a cradle-to-grave carbon footprint (CF) of 1824 kg CO2eq/air-dry ton (ADt) for US CBT (70 % BEK/30 % NBSK) using Light Dry Creped (LDC) technology. Substituting BBK for BEK/NBSK increases CF to 2041 kg CO2eq/ADt, with Chinese manufactured CBT at 2400 kg CO2eq/ADt. Using Creped Trough Air Drying (CTAD), CF rises to 2531 and 2739 kg CO2eq/ADt for BEK-NBSK and BEK-BBK mixtures, respectively. Including SOC factors do not change the conclusions. While the GWPbio factors are highly dependent on the time horizon considered. These results emphasize production technologies’ critical role in tissue sustainability and challenge bamboo’s perceived environmental advantages.

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Journal

Cleaner Environmental Systems

DOI

10.1016/j.cesys.2025.100337 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Article Title

Comparative life cycle assessment of bamboo-containing and wood-based hygiene tissue: Implications of fiber sourcing and conversion technologies

 

Straw-based biochar and smart irrigation help maize thrive with less water and fertilizer

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

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Contrasting residual effects of different biochar types on maize nitrogen uptake, biomass accumulation, water and nitrogen use efficiency under alternate partial root-zone drying irrigation

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Credit: Heng Wan, Mei Hong, Liang Fang, Yazen Al-Salman, Loes van Schaik, Zhenhua Wei, Fei Li, Violette Geissen & Fulai Liu

A new study has revealed that the lasting effects of biochar depend strongly on the material it is made from, with straw-derived biochar offering clear advantages for maize productivity under limited-water conditions. The research, published in Biochar, shows that combining wheat-straw biochar with an alternate partial root-zone drying irrigation system can boost crop yield and resource efficiency for at least two growing seasons after a single biochar application.

Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced by heating plant residues, has long been recognized for improving soil fertility and structure. Yet most studies have focused on its immediate effects. Researchers from Northwest A&F University in China and the University of Copenhagen set out to understand how different biochar types continue to influence soil and plant performance over time.

In greenhouse experiments conducted in 2021 and 2022, the team compared softwood and wheat-straw biochar applied once to maize plants grown under three irrigation strategies: full watering, deficit irrigation, and alternate partial root-zone drying, in which only half of the root system is watered at a time. This alternating approach helps plants adapt to periodic drying while maintaining productivity.

The findings revealed strong contrasts between the two biochar types. Under water-saving irrigation, wheat-straw biochar enhanced total maize biomass by up to 30 percent, increased water use efficiency by 27 percent, and improved nitrogen use efficiency by about 10 percent compared with untreated soil. These benefits were linked to greater microbial activity and higher soil nitrogen availability, which stimulated root growth and nutrient uptake even under stress.

In contrast, softwood biochar initially reduced microbial respiration and nitrogen availability, leading to smaller root systems and lower yields in the first year. However, these negative effects gradually declined in the following season as the soil microbial community adapted to the woody biochar’s more stable carbon structure.

The study also confirmed that alternate partial root-zone drying irrigation itself significantly improved nitrogen mineralization and water use, particularly when paired with straw-based biochar. By promoting cycles of drying and rewetting, this irrigation method stimulated soil microbes to release nutrients and supported deeper, more efficient root systems.

“Our results show that one-time applications of straw-derived biochar can deliver multi-year benefits when combined with precision irrigation,” said lead author Heng Wan. “This approach helps maintain soil fertility and crop productivity while reducing water and fertilizer use.”

The researchers suggest that integrating crop-residue biochar with water-saving irrigation could form part of sustainable soil-water-nutrient management strategies in dryland agriculture. The findings provide valuable guidance for farmers and policymakers seeking to enhance food security and resource efficiency in regions facing growing water scarcity.

 

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Journal Reference: Wan, H., Hong, M., Fang, L. et al. Contrasting residual effects of different biochar types on maize nitrogen uptake, biomass accumulation, water and nitrogen use efficiency under alternate partial root-zone drying irrigation. Biochar 7, 115 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-025-00518-3  

 

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About Biochar

Biochar is the first journal dedicated exclusively to biochar research, spanning agronomy, environmental science, and materials science. It publishes original studies on biochar production, processing, and applications—such as bioenergy, environmental remediation, soil enhancement, climate mitigation, water treatment, and sustainability analysis. The journal serves as an innovative and professional platform for global researchers to share advances in this rapidly expanding field. 

Follow us on Facebook, X, and Bluesky.  

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Journal

Biochar

DOI

10.1007/s42773-025-00518-3 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Contrasting residual effects of different biochar types on maize nitrogen uptake, biomass accumulation, water and nitrogen use efficiency under alternate partial root-zone drying irrigation

Article Publication Date

30-Oct-2025

Canada's Industry minister says relief coming for tariff-hit softwood lumber sector

By The Canadian Press
Updated: October 16, 2025

Minister of Industry Melanie Joly rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA — Federal Industry Minister Melanie Joly said financial relief is coming soon for Canada’s tariff-struck softwood lumber sector.

The minister said in Fredericton Wednesday the government will provide funding through banks, backstopped by the Business Development Bank of Canada, in the “coming days.”

“That’s for supporting, right now, our businesses to make sure that they stay afloat,” Joly said. “Meanwhile, we will make sure that we work on a buy-Canadian policy to have our homes and our major projects and our infrastructure being built with the great softwood from New Brunswick.”

While the vast majority of Canadian trade with the U.S. is exempted from tariffs because of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, U.S. President Donald Trump has targeted the steel, aluminum, auto, energy and lumber sectors with duties.

In August, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a $1.25 billion aid package to support the softwood lumber sector.

Joly said the funding will go toward ensuring businesses stay afloat while dealing with “unjustifiable” tariffs, adding the government will also offer support for operations and capital expenditures.

The minister said the government funding will be provided based on individual companies’ needs.

“We’re cutting red tape and we’re using the banking system to make sure that funding is available,” she told reporters Wednesday. “It’s not a question of how much each province will have, it’s ultimately what are the needs of the companies across the country.”

The Business Development Bank of Canada said in a news release Wednesday that the program will make it easier for the country’s softwood lumber businesses to access $700 million in new term loans or letters of credit through their primary financial institution.

It said the program was designed after discussions with companies, industry associations and financial institutions.

“BDC emphasized the program is not intended as a cure-all for the sector’s considerable challenges but rather act as a complementary tool with other financial options and government support programs to help these businesses continue to operate and better manage through an ever-evolving situation,” said the news release.

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson said in the release that the forest sector continues to face “unjustified duties” when exporting lumber to the U.S.

“We are working as Team Canada to support and retool our forest sector to protect jobs, strengthen competitiveness and resilience, and Buy Canadian to use more Canadian wood at home,” he said.

Joly said Wednesday she is following the development of the softwood lumber industry closely because it relates to national security.

“Because if one day Canada is not in a time of peace, we need to have steel plants, we need to have aluminum plants, we need to have lumber also,” she said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2025.


Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press.

With files from Hina Alam in Fredericton.