BIOPRODUCTS FROM SIDE STREAMS
An essential part of Metsä Fibre’s unique bioproduct mill concept is the creation of industrial ecosystems.
SAMI ANTEROINEN, photo MARKKU KIRVES
The core of the ecosystem is a partnership network op- erating around Äänekoski bioproduct mill and using the pulp produced by Metsä Fibre or side streams of its pulp production. This generates extensive value chains and of- fers significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to manufacture innovative bioproducts with high added value. Äänekoski bioproduct mill began operations in 2017. Since then, its ecosystem has flourished and an entirely new area of business has been born. Located alongside the bioproduct mill are the board mill, birch plywood mill and textile fibre demo plant of Metsä Group, as well as the production facilities of various partners. Traditional products – pulp made from pine and birch, biochemicals and bioenergy – are now accompanied by new bioproducts. “The business model of a bioproduct mill is based on an efficient partner network, in which new products are upgraded in cooperation with various players. A single player cannot master every conceivable area of expertise,
so it makes sense to build a network of capable partners to seek new hit products,” says Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen , Senior Vice President, Business Development Metsä Fibre. “Businesses that specialise in biomaterials, biochemicals, bioenergy, and so on, are invited to join the ecosystem in Äänekoski. They can be of various sizes and at different stages of development,” she points out. “Collaboration between the ecosystem partners stimu- lates the evolution of new bioproducts. This model creates significant synergies by joining together a wide range of core competencies.” TURNING PULP INTO TEXTILE Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring is in- volved in investment projects for new bioproducts. The company and its partners focus on new projects to identify and develop business opportunities related to the sustain- able forest-based bioeconomy and circular economy. Metsä Spring and Japanese ITOCHU Corporation have built a demo plant for the production of bio-based textile fibres in Äänekoski.
Katja Konola-Manninen Development Manager of Metsä Spring’s textile fibre demo plant. She is responsible for process and product quality develop ment as well as the design and implement ation of test runs.
Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen Senior Vice President, Business
Development Metsä Fibre is responsible for the development of existing and new products and technologies.
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