Six new Finnish forest products that are expected to reduce the use of fossil raw materials in the future.

“Wooden” fleece jacket

More than half of the materials (polymers) used in the fashion industry are made using non-renewable fossil resources. At the end of 2023, the company UPM and the internationally renowned clothing manufacturer Vaude presented a jacket made from wood-based polyester.

The resins typically used in polyester production contain 30% monoethylene glycol (MEG), which is traditionally derived from oil. In this jacket, fossil materials are replaced by wood-based monoethylene glycol.
“The new bio-based jacket allows fashion industry leaders to take action now,” Michael Duetsch (Michael Duetsch), Vice President of Biochemicals at UPM, said in a press release.

Cellulose-based packaging foam

Almost every one of us has purchased a device or item packaged in fossil polystyrene. Stora Enso offers a different protective and cushioning material for packaging – a cellulose-based polystyrene alternative called Papira.

Cellulose foam is natural, biological, and recyclable, just like paper or cardboard. No solvents or hazardous chemicals are used in its production, only air and water.

Reducing the weight of high-quality product packaging

Cosmetics, high-end drinks, and chocolate are high-quality products that are typically packed in rigid boxes to enhance the impression of quality and style. The downside is the environmental impact of the packaging.

In October 2023, Metsä Board reported on new micro-flute packaging solutions that require less material than before. Compared to traditional corrugated board, the micro-fluting of the new product is significantly smaller. The new packaging is up to 50% lighter than other similar alternatives.

The company explains that the carbon footprint generated by this innovation is 59% smaller than when producing traditional packaging boxes. The new packaging does not use harmful glues or plastic laminates, making it easier to recycle.

Cardboard made from wood fibre helps fight food waste

Every year, 153.5 tonnes of food end up as waste in the European Union, which accounts for 6% of EU greenhouse gas emissions. Vacuum-packed beef or fish stays fresh almost five times longer than in traditional plastic or paper packaging. But... most vacuum packaging is made from fossil plastics.

The Stora Enso-manufactured board Trayforma BarrPeel offers a more environmentally friendly and sustainable vacuum packaging film made from renewable board with a thin polymer coating. The wood fibre content in this product is over 90%.

Lignin in gypsum and concrete

The company Metsä Fibre, part of the Metsä Group, announced last May plans to build a demo plant where it would produce processed lignin products together with Andritz. The long-term goal is to develop a process for both separating lignin from the pulp production by-product – black liquor – and processing it into new end products. The bio-based lignin products obtained at the plant could be used, for example, as high-efficiency water reducers in the production of gypsum and concrete for the construction industry.

“To replace fossil materials and raw materials, it is important that we actively develop alternative products made from renewable raw materials,” explains Ismo Nousiainen (Ismo Nousiainen), CEO of Metsä Fibre, in a press release.

Replacing plastic bags with fibre-based packaging

UPM together with partners has developed wood fibre-based packaging that allows for the replacement of plastic bags used for packing frozen bread. The packaging is made of renewable material and is recyclable; it reduces the use of fossil packaging materials because a separate plastic bag is no longer needed inside the box.
Bread in such packaging stays fresh, ensuring that consumers have fewer worries about preserving food products and reducing the use of non-renewable plastic materials.
Photograph used from the original article
https://forest.fi/article/new-products-from-finnish-bioeconomy/#12e93d24
https://www.upm.com/about-us/for-media/releases/2023/11/upm-and-vaude-showcase-the-future-of-fabrics-at-ispo-munich-2023-with-first-ever-fleece-jacket-made-from-wood-based-polyester/
https://www.storaenso.com/en/products/bio-based-materials/cellulose-foam
https://www.metsagroup.com/metsaboard/news-and-publications/articles/new-micro-flute-solution-alternative-to-rigid-boxes/
https://info.storaenso.com/pm/trayforma-barrpeel-landing-page
https://www.metsagroup.com/news-and-publications/news/2023/metsa-group-and-andritz-plan-a-lignin-product-demonstration-plant-at-aanekoski/
https://www.upm.com/about-us/for-media/releases/2023/10/upm-specialty-papers-lantmannen-unibake-and-adara-eliminate-plastic-bags-inside-cardboard-boxes-for-frozen-bread/