The forestry innovations included in Europe's new bioeconomy strategy have attracted considerable attention in Brussels. EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall presented the strategy to the media wearing a dress made of wood fibre, with a wide range of bioproducts on display in the background. The dress was made from Metsä Group's Kuura textile material, a biodegradable, wood-based alternative to cotton and synthetic fabrics.
"The Commissioner told the media: 'I am wearing clothing made of wood,'" emphasised Kaisu Karvala, Director of EU Affairs at the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, who describes the event devoted to the bioeconomy strategy as a significant turning point for the Finnish bioeconomy. In her view, the outfit was more than a merely symbolic gesture: "For the first time, Europe recognises us as part of the solution for moving away from fossil resources. It is clear that dresses, too, can be made from forest industry by-products. We are the alternative to fossil resources!" Changes of this kind are significant compared with the previous term of the European Parliament. "Previously we complained that the legislation was too strict; now we are being asked to present our products, because a new strategy is being introduced," says K. Karvala. The exhibits for the display were provided by the Brussels office of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF).
Forestry – at the heart of the green transition
The Finnish Forest Industries Federation believes that the new EU bioeconomy strategy will strengthen the role of forestry in the transition to a green economy. By 2040, Europe plans to make extensive use of bio-based materials in plastics, packaging, textiles, chemicals, construction materials, fuels and carbon capture technologies. The Finnish forest sector has already achieved concrete results in these areas. The strength of the strategy is its focus on innovative markets.
"The EU bioeconomy strategy is an important framework document for the development of the bioeconomy in Europe. It is important for the forest industry and for Finland to make use of the opportunities the bioeconomy offers, because the forest industry accounts for more than 50% of Finland's total bioeconomy, one of the highest proportions in Europe," Maarit Lindström, Chief Economist at the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, said in a press release. In her view, the importance of the Nordic forestry value chain is reflected in the strategy's priorities. The strategy emphasises that a sustainable bioeconomy and sustainable forestry are interconnected.
"Most importantly, the bioeconomy reduces our dependence on unstable global supply chains and on imports of fossil resources, including energy," Jessika Roswall said when presenting the bioeconomy strategy. Finnish wood-based products were showcased during the presentation, among them the MySoda carbon dioxide generator.
Finnish products on show in Brussels
On 27 November 2025, as work began on implementing the EU bioeconomy strategy, a wide range of Finnish wood-based products was presented – textiles, biochemical products, even baths made of wood composite material.
"The fact that Finnish wood products were singled out (promoted) right at the very start of the strategy's implementation is very important, because it shows how significant a role the forest bioeconomy plays in Europe's transition to a green economy," said M. Lindström, adding that efforts are currently visible across Europe to "transfer" bioeconomy innovations from the laboratory to industrial scale and to the market. "Scaling up volumes and scale is a decisive stage in bringing innovations to market, and support for renewable materials in public procurement and legislation is a step in the right direction."
Kaisu Karvala believes that Finland's visibility and importance in the European Union's bioeconomy have grown rapidly. The country has a strong foundation and a solid reputation, and further growth depends on increasing production volumes. She expects the European Union to support this transition.
"Creating demand for renewable materials in the European Union requires broader engagement – for example, setting a requirement that products must contain some minimum amount of renewable raw materials, or creating other kinds of clearly understandable incentives," K. Karvala stresses.