Over the next three years, the “Latvijas Finieris” concern will begin construction of a new synthetic resin plant in the Bolderāja industrial hub in Riga. It will be equipped with globally unique technology, which will provide the opportunity to significantly reduce the proportion of fossil phenol in the production of these widely used adhesives, replacing it with renewable lignin – a natural biopolymer found in wood.

The construction of the plant is part of the international consortium project VIOBOND, which, under the leadership of “Latvijas Finieris”, brings together 9 partners from five European Union member states. Over the course of five years, the project aims to develop a formula and create the world's first industrial production technology for “greener”, more environmentally and human-friendly synthetic phenol-formaldehyde resins, which are currently used in Europe and elsewhere in the world in the manufacture of plywood, thermal insulation materials, furniture, flooring, sandpaper, and many other everyday products.

“The VIOBOND team is united by a shared understanding of science-driven achievements and sustainable operations in the represented sectors. These are important prerequisites for the project to ensure a significant contribution to the gradual transition towards the use of renewable, sustainably sourced resources, which is one of the goals of the European Green Deal. The VIOBOND project is another step that also fulfils the commitment of “Latvijas Finieris” – to seek opportunities to completely abandon the use of fossil resources in the company's economic activities by 2050,” emphasises Māris Būmanis, a member of the management board of the company “Latvijas Finieris”.