TAPPI, the leading association for the worldwide pulp, paper, tissue, packaging and converting industries, has renamed their Nanotechnology Division the International Division of Advanced Technologies for Renewable Materials (ARM). The Division focuses on the evolving landscape of renewable materials research and industry trends. The new name is more representative of the research and cutting-edge technologies the Division is driving.
“TAPPI has a long-standing tradition of being at the forefront of advancements in the global forest products industry,” said TAPPI President and CEO Larry N. Montague. “This change reflects our members continued initiatives to lead the development of sustainable, high-performance materials while maintaining a focus that is both forward-thinking and inclusive of emerging technologies.”
The new name reflects the Division’s ongoing expansion into cutting-edge fields such as bio-based materials, functional composites, and sustainable chemistry, while still incorporating nanotechnology where relevant. The Advanced Renewable Materials (ARM) Division is a hub for new developments in renewable materials, encouraging broader participation from experts in materials science, chemistry, and engineering.
“Our division brings together leading scientists, engineers, students, and industry professionals committed to advancing renewable material technologies,” said Division Chair Johan Foster, NSERC Canfor Industrial Research Chair in Advanced Bioproducts, Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Colombia. “The name change better reflects our mission to accelerate the development, production, and application of next-generation bio-based materials that meet global needs for sustainability, performance, and circularity.”
The ARM Division will be uniting with other TAPPI Divisions at TAPPICon, April 27-29, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. The conference’s call for speakers is open through October 20, 2025. To get involved with the ARM Division, please contact TAPPI Division Manager Robert Davis.
About the TAPPI International Division of Advanced Technologies for Renewable Materials:
The Division’s Technical Committees work together throughout the year to solve problems, develop technical papers, plan conference sessions, and more. For more information and to get involved, visit the ARM webpage.
