The research center, located in Tainionkoski, Imatra, near Stora Enso's Imatra mills, is an important part of Stora Enso's biomaterials product development.
Stora Enso's long-term vision also states that everything that is made from fossil raw materials today can be made from wood tomorrow.
Packaging boards play a significant role in Stora Enso's strategy, so Imatra is developing new packaging solutions, researching the properties of wood fibers, and finding new uses for the fibers.
For example, is the idea of completely plastic-free packaging a goal, let alone possible?
“The answer is yes and no. There are many applications for cardboard. The level of demand placed on the packaging is probably the most decisive factor. I don’t think there is yet a cardboard that would completely replace plastic, but we have solutions that will be possible alongside the current ones. Of course, the packaging must function well for its purpose. In addition, commercial and economic factors play a role. Such as how much fiber-based packaging costs compared to current packaging,” he points out. Jouni Hakkarainen.
He previously served as the manager of Stora Enso's Research Centre Imatra. He was replaced as RCI site manager at the beginning of the year. Teemu Bear, who is also responsible for product development of barrier coatings. Hakkarainen is currently responsible for the quality and safety systems of the Imatra factories.
The bear is a little concerned about the complete lack of plastic, because there is a certain paradox in it.
“We are developing barrier materials and plastic coatings and at the same time we are trying to get rid of plastic. I still don't think it's a two-wheeled vehicle. Even the thinning of coatings aims to get rid of plastics. However, in certain end uses, getting rid of plastics completely is very challenging.”
One of the challenges is that plastic is a material with very good protective properties. It is also inexpensive, while the cost structure of biomaterials is heavier.
According to Karhu, certain end uses can still be done well without plastic.
"However, food packaging requires certain protective properties that cannot be compromised on. Of course, it can also be considered whether protection can be achieved with something other than traditional plastic. This also requires further discussion with our customers and their customers about whether it is possible to strive for plastic-free packaging in general. Because the transition may also require adjustments to the packaging manufacturer's production lines if the composition of the material changes. And of course, possible changes in packaging materials are also affected by the general atmosphere and prevailing regulations."
For example, the shelf life of the product is essential for food packaging. Although packaging has many functions, including providing information and making it visually appealing and attractive, its most important function is to protect the product inside.
Applying for applied research
Imatra does not conduct research and development in isolation, but also has close connections with universities.
"For example, Savonlinna's Xamk and its fiber laboratory are one of our research collaboration partners. Of course, we have ongoing collaboration with many other activities linked to our field of activity. And the collaboration is not limited to making paper and cardboard, but various sciences are widely involved," says the Research and Development Manager Jari Rasänen.
Stora Enso follows with interest publicly funded research, for example through the EU or Business Finland.
"And when we notice something interesting for us, we create a company-specific structure for the research and start financing it with certain instruments and our own funding. And of course, when we are at the stage of applying basic research to our own operations, we also protect it quite jealously."
For example, the five-year "Emission Free Pulping" is, according to Räsänen, a good example of a long publicly funded research program that benefits the industry - and that doesn't even involve jealousy.
"This is a platform for research and business actors, including biomaterials. The research results are public and can be utilized and applied by all participating companies."
When talking about innovation and the nature of innovation, Räsänen points out that in Finland and elsewhere, science is done where science is done.
“Basic research is definitely needed, but the applied research needed by the business world can sometimes be more difficult for professors.”
The future of cardboard
The research center's pilot machine is used to run weekly test batches of pulp pulp made from renewable wood raw materials mixed with different recipes. The final results are then reviewed in product development.
“This is a bit like baking a bun, we have the fiber and the chemical recipes. Of course, we carefully consider in advance what we are trying to achieve with the test batch. The finished board can, for example, be coated and then sent for testing to the next processing stage. This is a really good tool to support our development work, much better than just process modeling or laboratory-level testing,” notes Jouni Hakkarainen.
