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Wood-based innovations can substantially contribute to bioeconomy and future competitiveness of the forest-based sector. However, the forest-based sector lacks consumer-related information that is essential to achieve societal acceptance and market diffusion of wood-based innovations. Therefore, this study investigates the perceptions and related information demands regarding the four selected innovations, that is, wooden multi-story timber construction (WMC), biorefinery (BR), natural fiber reinforced composites (NFC), and nanocellulose (NC). A focus group discussion with future-oriented individuals representing potential future opinion leaders and a subsequent qualitative content analysis was used as the research method. The results show that the perception and information demand of the focus group participants differs between the innovations as a result of their market maturity. It was observed that the participants discussed WMC, a well-established innovation, in detail compared to NC, a quite recent innovation. The results suggest that the forest-based sector should consider individual and societal benefits when communicating the benefits of wood-based innovations.

The expansion of existing pulp mills with additional technology processing concepts to forest-based biorefineries implies high risks. A stakeholder-integrated strategy development is therefore more likely to open up such new business opportunities. Therefore, this paper aims to develop and verify a feasible approach. For this purpose, Porter’s deliberate strategy was extended in context of a case study on the production of hemicelluloses for value-added food markets. Considering two different strategies based on technological approaches, the case of pre-extraction can be given preference considering the interests of involved stakeholders regarding food additive marketing. The implementation process of a forest biorefinery remains widely case dependent, but nonetheless this paper provides some guidance concerning realization steps. The study proved that vast concordance between three different stakeholder groups can be achieved in case of two complex options. Hence, coordination of stakeholder interests is feasible in context of technology implementation strategy development.

In recent years, the concepts of accounting for water use and assessing its impact, also known as the water footprint (WF), have evolved. The cultivation of wood and cotton are two important bio-based fiber resources that can use, consume, and pollute huge amounts of water. The purpose of this study is to identify the methodological options on an inventory level asociated with a WF assessment for bio-based fiber resources. Using a three-step Argument Delphi approach with international experts, important, but controversial, aspects of water footprinting are elaborated. During the different rounds of the Delphi procedure, the interlacement of the crucial topics became apparent, including the net green water or the total volume of green water, trade-offs between water use and land-use impacts, allocation of the green WF on ecosystem services, and nomination of a reference situation (e.g., potential natural vegetation). Further, this study evaluates whether the experts allowed generalizations about these methodological options. Finally, the agreement of experts on some generalized statements showed that such statements can be used legitimately as long as knowledge of the inventory methods and knowledge of production characteristics are carefully combined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women decide on about 80% of the goods that their household buys. But marketers often sell products, especially technical ones, that are designed by men and therefore are oriented largely toward their needs. Consequently, assembly instructions for these products are also oriented toward men’s needs. To illustrate the impact of gender orientation in assembly instructions, this study investigates whether theoretical cognitive or psychological gender differences have a practical influence on the usability of assembly instructions. This study has direct implications for technical writers who strive for a more universal design for such instructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to move towards a post-petroleum society, the use of by-products, such as lignin, offers unique opportunities. In terms of material use, lignin is an underutilized by-product of pulp and paper mills. It has interesting properties for composite applications, either as matrix component or as filler. Besides its contribution to the vision of bio-economy, the advanced use of lignin as composite could offer economic long-term benefits for stakeholders along the value chain. The aim of this study was to identify barriers and incentives on the market diffusion of lignin-based composites. Additionally, supportive investigations on the potential bottlenecks along the value chain and the potential market development were conducted. Considering the value chain of lignin-based thermoplastic composites, 19 experts from the pulp and paper industry, research and composite production and application from across Europe and North America participated within the two-stage Delphi study. The 1st stage consisted of expert interviews, followed by summarizing and structuring of the derived key-factors into the categories strengths and weaknesses of lignin for composites, as well as potential opportunities and threats (SWOT). Thereafter, the SWOT analysis was reviewed and the three most important key-factors of each SWOT category were selected by the experts (2nd stage). The conducted Delphi-SWOT analysis demonstrated various barriers and incentives, as well as the high interdependency between the potential stakeholder groups along the value chain. Besides potential barriers like odor and color issues, questions regarding the final field of application were derived. In general, the potential environmental benefits, as well as potential additional profits along the value chain are seen as incentives for the market diffusion. The establishment of industrial networks is considered as possibility to overcome existing bottlenecks. Besides the improvement of cost-performance relations, sustainability and environmental issues are seen as incentives for the future market development of lignin-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]