LSIWC researchers present innovative solutions for sustainable materials at BiPoCo conference in Budapest

From 24 to 27 August, the 6th International Conference “BiPoCo 2026” (Biobased Polymers and Composites) took place in Budapest, Hungary. The conference was attended by Ugis Cabulis, Scientific Director and Leading Researcher at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC), as well as Leading Researchers Aiga Ivdre and Mikelis Kirpluks. They presented research on the use of renewable feedstocks, waste recycling and the development of new sustainable materials, while also contributing to the conference’s scientific programme.

Research presentations and achievements

• Mikelis Kirpluks delivered an oral presentation, “Design of Reprocessable Bio-Based Thermosets from Used Cooking Oil-Derived Building Blocks” (BioCAN project, No. ES RTD/2025/12), and presented the results of the TReResin project in a poster presentation, “Transforming Waste Cooking Oil into Dynamically Crosslinked, Bio-Based Polymer Materials” (No. lzp-2024/1-0333). Both studies focus on the use of waste cooking oil for the development of reprocessable polymers.
• Aiga Ivdre presented a poster, “Short-fiber Reinforced Composites with Tall Oil Fatty Acid–Derived Polymer” (TOMPosite project, No. lzp-2024/1-0071). Her research received high recognition in the poster competition, earning second place.
• Ugis Cabulis presented the results of the RecPUR project – “Chemically recycled PU foam waste as new building blocks for new polymer development via Michael addition reaction” (No. lzp-2024/1-0277), which focuses on the chemical recycling of polyurethane foam waste. Researchers Beatrise Sture-Skela, Ralfs Pomilovskis and Darta Lina Eihe also made significant contributions to the presented research.

Active involvement in the conference scientific programme

In addition to presenting his research, Mikelis Kirpluks served as a Session Chair and participated in the expert panel discussion “Materials Design Inspired by Nature”, which explored biomimetics and the use of structures found in nature in the design of sustainable materials.

Mikelis also served as an expert in the BiPoCo Emerging Voices session, providing feedback to early-career researchers and contributing to the selection of participants for a three-month mentoring programme.

Contributing to the development of the field

Participation in BiPoCo 2026 provided LSIWC researchers with an opportunity to represent the institute internationally, exchange knowledge and contribute to the professional development of early-career researchers. The presented studies reflect LSIWC’s work in the fields of green chemistry, bioeconomy and the circular economy, focusing on solutions for using wood, plant-based biomass and their processing by-products in the development of new products and materials.

Leading Researcher Mikelis Kirpluks delivers an oral presentation.