Ontario BioAuto Council adds new members

The Ontario BioAuto Council – an industry-led, not-for-profit organization linking Ontario’s agriculture and forestry sectors to chemical/plastics processors and advanced manufacturers to produce materials and chemicals from biological feedstocks – has added three new members to its roster.

The new members are Cargill, Carpenter Canada Co., and the National Research Council Biotechnology Research Institute (NRC-BRI).

Cargill of Wayzata, Minn., is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural,

financial and industrial products and services. Carpenter Canada Co. of Woodbridge, Ont., is a manufacturer of a wide variety of polyurethane foams for the bedding industry, as well as for carpet cushion and furniture products. The NRC Biotechnology Research Institute of Montréal, Que. is the largest NRC laboratory in Canada dedicated to R&D in biotechnology. NRC-BRI is partnering with industry to develop the next generation of bio-polyols for the automotive, aerospace, construction and plastics industries.

“The world class expertise of these organizations significantly extends the Council’s reputation as a leader in bio-based polyol commercialization,” said Craig Crawford, president and CEO of the Council.

Originally funded by a $6-million dollar grant from the Province of Ontario, BioAuto Council operates a commercialization fund that targets near-market-ready innovations that will lead to the

production of bio-plastic and bio-composite materials, for use in the manufacture of automotive

parts, furniture, construction materials and other consumer and industrial products.

BioAuto Council members are involved in developing new bio-polyol products including automotive foam seating, headliners, and load floors as well as a range of furniture and bedding applications.