Abstract: The invention provides a fibre-reinforced polymer composite comprising fibres derived from mammalian hair and/or feathers, wherein the fibres have been prepared by means of a process comprising the steps of: (a) subjecting mammalian hair and/or feathers to an oxidation treatment in which the hair and/or feathers (is) are contacted with a solution, which comprises a bleaching agent; (b) separating the oxidised hair and/or feathers from the solution; and (c) drying the separated hair and/or feathers. The invention further provides processes to prepare said composite, a process to prepare said fibres, and shaped polymer products comprising said composite.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a particulate material derived from mammalian hair in the preparation of a paper or paperboard product, which particulate material has been prepared by means of a process, which comprises the following steps: (a) subjecting mammalian hair to an oxidation treatment in which the hair is contacted with a solution, which comprises a bleaching agent; (b) separating the oxidised hair from the solution; (c) drying the separated hair; and (d) subjecting the dried hair to a treatment in which the hair is formed into a particulate material having an average particle size in the range of from 0.5 to 4 mm. The invention further relates to a paper or paperboard product, or paper pulp comprising said particulate material.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a protein hydrolysate derived from keratin-containing material as an additive in the wet-end of a papermaking process. The invention further relates to a process for making a paper pulp or paper product, and a paper pulp or a paper product comprising protein hydrolysate derived from keratin-containing material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing insulating and/or fire-resistant material, wherein the potato steam peels are subjected to a treatment for recovering a cork fraction, at least a non-calorific part, from those peels, while the insulating and/or fireresistant material is manufactured at least from the recovered cork fraction and a binding agent. The invention further provides insulating and/or fire-resistant material containing at least a cork fraction recovered from potato steam peels. Further, the invention provides a construction element, provided with such insulating and/or fire-resistant material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a soil cover, a method for preventing weed growth by using a soil cover, the use of potato steam peels and the use of a cork fraction of potato steam peels for preventing weed growth. A soil cover according to the invention comprises potato steam peels or a part, derivative or analogue thereof. In a different embodiment, a soil cover according to the invention comprises a cork fraction of potato steam peels or a part, derivative or analogue thereof.