Innovations flourish in the industrial ecosystem
Metsä Fibre’s bioproduct mill concept and industrial ecosystem function as a growth platform for future bioproducts and sustainable growth.
Text: Maria Latokartano Photos: Metsä Fibre
When the planning of the Äänekoski bioproduct mill began in 2013, those involved in the project knew that the goal was to build more than just a mill. Metsä Fibre’s plan was to create a new bioproduct mill concept. The aim was to use all of the valuable wood raw material and refine the side streams generated by production into bioproducts with a high added value. At the same time, the mill’s energy and environmental efficiency would be further improved. The concept would create an industrial ecosystem – a network of partners operating near the mill – in which new bioproducts would be refined together with various industry players. Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen , who works at Metsä Group, has been part of developing the bioproduct mill concept since the beginning. “Nowadays, it’s possible that others have similar partnerships as well, so it’s not a unique concept in that sense. However, the trend started with our concept, and our good practices have also spread elsewhere.”
Full utilisation of raw materials and side streams
In 2017, when the Äänekoski bioproduct mill began operating, the integrated mill area was also home to Metsä Board’s board mill, Metsä Wood’s veneer mill, CMC manufacturer CP Kelco – which has since been sold to Nouryon Chemicals Finland – and Specialty Minerals Nordic, which produces additives for paper and board manufacturing. The ecosystem has since expanded with the addition of Metsä Fibre’s biogas and biopellet plant as well as Metsä Spring’s Kuura® and Muoto™ demo plants. Veolia’s biomethanol refinery will be completed in 2025, and construction is ongoing at Metsä Wood’s new Kerto® LVL plant as well Metsä Fibre’s lignin product demo plant. “The target of the bioproduct mill concept is to utilise 100 per cent of the wood raw material and production side streams, and we have achieved this goal. Our process generates no waste, and all side streams from production
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