WA Branch Chemaraderie – September 17th 2025
Microbial Cellulose – Sustainable Fashion from the New Forest
Boon Tan
Operations & Quality Manager, Nanollose (www.nanollose.com)
Email: boon.tan@nanollose.com
Abstract
Over 300 million trees are cut down annually to make man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF) for textiles, with around 25% sourced from endangered and old-growth forests. Nanollose’s invention, Nullarbor™ Tree-Free fibres, are produced from microbial cellulose and avoid deforestation or habitat loss, while offering strength superior to current wood-pulp-based lyocell.
Biography
As the Operations and Quality Manager at Nanollose, Boon is responsible for evaluating processes and overseeing the quality of raw materials and final products, supporting the transition of Nanollose’s innovative biomaterial technology from R&D to commercialisation. He also manages client liaison for operational projects and coordinates both in-house and external laboratory assessments of next-generation biomaterials.
Boon holds a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) and is certified in LEAN Six Sigma. He is also a qualified NATA technical assessor for ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 17034, with extensive experience implementing international quality standards—including ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 17034, and HACCP—across multinational organisations.
Evening details
Date: Wednesday 17th September
Time: 5.30pm Refreshments and registration
6.00pm Presentation
To be followed by more networking, and light catering
Venue: ChemCentre, Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin University.
Cost: Free - RSVP for catering purposes
