ReStalk, Inc has entered into a licensing agreement with Sustainable Fiber Technologies (SFT) enabling the company to utilize the SFT’s suite of IP to process hemp into cellulose pulp and biopolymers. These polymers are used to make vapor product packaging, among many other items.
The partnership allows SFT to assist ReStalk in the developing hemp-based pulp and board products. “ReStalk is an excellent company with the foresight into both the paper and packaging arena. Their team and expertise of hemp cultivars makes ReStalk a perfect licensee for the Phoenix Process,” said Mark Lewis CEO of SFT. “Domestically, the demand for hemp pulp has never been higher, it provides a quality non-wood fiber that competes with softwood fiber.”
ReStalk’s first project with the SFT license will be building a a pulp mill capable of producing100 tons-per-day of pulp. “We’re eager to provide the infrastructure needed to stabilize this re-emerging crop,” said Lucas Hildebrand, ReStalk’s chief strategy officer. “This project will strengthen the supply chain and manufacturing of hemp’s downstream products here in the US. We’re excited to get to work and lay the foundation for a more regenerative model of production.”
As the pandemic caused by COVID-19 continues to disrupt global supply chains, the need for scalable sustainable solutions has never been more necessary, according to a press release. The mill positions ReStalk as the largest supplier of American manufactured hemp pulp.
“Consumer demand for new sources of sustainable packaging is accelerating worldwide. Along with forest-based fibers, we see tremendous interest in hemp and similar alternative agricultural fibers,” said Warren Pullen, executive vice president for Central National Gottesman, a pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and non-wovens distribution. “We believe ReStalk has the potential to successfully address unmet demand for hemp fiber and take green packaging to the next level.”