Next Gen Fiber Exploration: Staying Ahead of the Curve for Growth and Resilience

What happens when cutting-edge innovation, breakthrough research, and industry insight converge under one roof? You get Next Gen Fiber Exploration — a dynamic, hands-on summit co-hosted by Canopy and the Sustainable Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI) at North Carolina State University. Held on June 3, 2025, the event brought together innovators, researchers, and industry leaders to explore scalable alternative fiber solutions, foster collaboration, and advance North America’s growing leadership in the shift to low-impact, climate-aligned supply chains.

Led by Dr. Ronalds W. Gonzalez and supported by world-class researchers, the event showcased CTMP (Chemi-thermo mechanical pulping) demonstrations of alternative fibers like wheat straw, bagasse, and hemp, proving the potential for alternative feedstocks to flow seamlessly through conventional infrastructure.

Beyond the lab, the day featured deep-dives into Canopy’s North America Hub strategy: from feedstock availability and commercial-scale trials conducted in North America across grades to product performance insights on recyclability and food safety. Discussions delved into the technical nuances and market potential of Next Gen fibers, underscoring supply chain de-risking as the strongest business case for fiber diversification and long-term resilience.

Participants gained rare access to SAFI’s cutting-edge research capabilities, and found space for candid, pre-competitive collaboration. Together, they examined pathways to scale up production, derisk supply chains, and build collective momentum toward future-proofing the paper and packaging industry.

With practical demonstrations, actionable insights, and a collaborative spirit, Next Gen Fiber Exploration made one thing clear: North America is well-positioned to capture market demand, stay ahead of regulatory changes, and build long-term supply resilience.

Download Canopy’s ‘Next Gen Fiber: Performance, Markets, and Supply Resilience’ publication to learn more.