Established in 2010 at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), WIST has evolved from an innovative concept into a reliable partner in sustainable technology research and testing services.

WIST was founded through the collaborative vision of UWSP faculty members, including Eric Singsaas, Gerry Ring, Don Guay, and Christine Thomas. They recognized the need for university laboratory expertise in industry applications and the opportunity to connect these partners to government leaders. Congressman David Obey championed WIST’s promising research goals to provide crucial resources, setting the stage for a decade and a half of innovation.

WIST’s operational structure was formalized with the appointment of Dr. Paul Fowler as Executive Director in 2010. Fowler’s background in carbohydrate chemistry applications and natural product research and development positioned him ideally to advance WIST’s mission and strategic objectives.

WIST’s objective is to help businesses improve their processes. Sustainability is a three-legged stool; the economy, environmental factors, and social facets all work together.

Inaugural research focused on developing plant-based jet fuel alternatives, exploring solutions to the impact of military fuel consumption. Working with American Science and Technology, WIST explored converting wood and biofuel crops into biofuel and chemicals for 21st-century markets. The project sought to meet U.S. Department of Defense energy goals while reducing dependence on foreign fuel, and the partnership created a pilot-scale biorefinery.

WIST’s efforts have centered on plant-based technology—biofuels, to begin, but also planting, viticulture, wood and agricultural pulp, plant-based plastics—and recycling and compostability. WIST partners with organizations looking to find solutions for sustainability questions.

In 2013 RiverPoint emerged, a new line of art paper, collaboratively created, promoted, and distributed in conjunction with the UWSP art department. Students needed an affordable paper for art projects—high-quality, archival paper that was also economical. Using UWSP’s pilot paper machine, WIST’s collaboration produced paper that was less expensive for UWSP students. The paper was ultimately marketed commercially and shipped to 15 states.

Another early WIST initiative included Focal Point, a conference hosted by WIST for regional professionals that highlighted research and trends in the field of paper-based food packaging.

Over the years, other projects included cold-weather grape production, pulping and bleaching trials on wood and non-wood biomass, paper trials, and working with bioplastic end-of-life concerns. WIST has carefully balanced the needs in the market with technical capacities to meet those needs.

Testing repulpability and recyclability of fiber-based products ensures that technological specifications are being met before an organization can make those claims. WIST’s testing capabilities have been recognized by How2Recycle for delivering results that organizations need to confidently achieve third-party certification.

WIST added compostability testing to its list of services in 2012. As companies began to see the value in compostability, reliable testing was essential to verify claims that materials were appropriately composting.
WIST was the first academic laboratory in the United States to be approved by BPI for testing to ASTM compostability standards, helping businesses to claim their products are compostable.

Research grants have been crucial in recognizing and advancing WIST’s contributions to environmental science. WIST received annual support from the state in its early years and more recently grants have been secured from Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), ($4 million); U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), ($500,000); and the Woods Innovation Grant program of the US Forest Service ($100,000).

Some of the current and upcoming projects include exploration of home composting studies, biochar testing, and regenerative agriculture opportunities. Innovation in forest products is another highly relevant initiative central to WIST’s objectives.

WIST’s evolution from initial concept to established research institution demonstrates the value of persistent innovation, strategic adaptation, and commitment to excellence in addressing contemporary sustainability challenges.