What is Bacterial Cellulose?
A clear explanation of bacterial cellulose (BC), what it is, its unique properties, and why it’s a sustainable alternative to plastics, with examples from Europe and verified scientific references.
What is Cellulose (and Bacterial Cellulose)?
Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer on Earth. It is the main structural component of plant cell walls, composed of long chains of glucose (β-1→4-linked glucan) that provide rigidity and strength. You can find cellulose in trees (spruce, pine, eucalyptus), cotton, hemp, bamboo, and even vegetables such as cabbage or broccoli.
In the paper industry, cellulose is known as pulp or paper fiber. Since the 19th century, it has been extracted from wood on a large scale for making paper and cardboard. Before that, fibers from cotton and linen — which contain high cellulose content — were mainly used.
However, cellulose is not found only in plants. Some bacteria — especially from the genus Komagataeibacter — can produce cellulose through fermentation, converting sugars into extremely fine nanofibers. This material, known as bacterial cellulose (BC), is chemically identical to plant cellulose but is much purer (free from lignin and hemicellulose) and forms a dense, strong network.
→ Learn more about bacterial cellulose and sustainable packaging
What is Bacterial Cellulose?
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is cellulose secreted by certain bacteria as a gel-like film outside their cell walls. While its chemical structure (β-1→4-glucan) is identical to plant cellulose, its nano-scale architecture is unique: BC is ultra-pure, highly crystalline, and has a dense nanofiber network. This results in:
- High purity: virtually no lignin, hemicellulose, or pectin.
- Superior mechanical strength: excellent tensile strength and toughness compared to most plant fibers.
- High water retention: the nanofiber network can absorb and hold large amounts of water.
- Consistent quality: controlled fermentation yields reproducible results.
At Plastilose, BC serves as a core bio-based material for innovative, plastic-free products — such as medical dosage cups, sustainable packaging, and high-performance filtration barriers.
Why Choose Bacterial Cellulose?
- Bio-based & sustainable: produced from renewable sugars (potentially from residual streams) via fermentation.
- Fully biodegradable: leaves no microplastics or PFAS residues in nature.
- Safe for humans & environment: highly pure and biocompatible; suitable for food contact and medical use.
- Circular & future-ready: scalable from lab to industrial production; aligned with European circular economy goals.
→ Explore the advantages of cellulose in the packaging industry
Applications of Bacterial Cellulose
- Sustainable consumer goods: compostable straws, cups, and functional films.
Cellulose straws: safe & eco-friendly - Medical uses: wound dressings, scaffolds, and medical dosage cups — thanks to BC’s strength and biocompatibility.
- Acoustic & thermal insulation: BC films and aerogels with low thermal conductivity and excellent sound absorption.
- Cosmetics & food: thickener, carrier, or fiber additive; E-number E460 (microcrystalline cellulose) is used as a filler or anti-caking agent (note: usually plant-derived).
→ How cellulose is transforming the future of food packaging
Cellulose as an Insulation Material
Plant-based cellulose insulation (recycled paper) is a well-known ecological alternative to mineral wool or EPS. Bacterial cellulose can also be engineered into films, foams, or aerogels offering promising thermal and acoustic performance thanks to its porous nanostructure and low density.
Cellulose in Everyday Life
You encounter cellulose more often than you might think:
- Toothpaste & glue (as a thickener or binder)
- Food: E-number E460 (microcrystalline cellulose)
- Cosmetics: stabilizer or thickener in creams and masks
The Future of (Bacterial) Cellulose
Bacterial cellulose is a promising replacement for fossil-based plastics: biobased, strong, pure, and suitable for circular value chains. At Plastilose — based in BlueCity Rotterdam (NL) — we’re developing PFAS- and microplastic-free solutions for healthcare and packaging sectors.
Learn more — contact us or subscribe to our newsletter.
References (click to expand)
SEO things
- Focus keyphrase: What is Bacterial Cellulose
- Related: bacterial cellulose, biopolymer, cellulose from bacteria
- Images use alt text and loading="lazy"
- Internal links to Plastilose cases, pilot, impact calculator
Who are we?
our mission
Plastilose was founded with a clear mission: to develop a product that helps the planet and satisfies the consumer. We believe in honest solutions and are driven to make a real impact, no greenwashing, just genuine results.
Jason
Founder - Biodesign expert
Joram
