Towards a more sustainable future

The Finnish and European forest industry is living through a time when investments in new technologies and product innovations are particularly considered. Uncertainty in global markets has increased caution, and the scalability and commercialization of development projects are now playing an even more critical role.

Large forest industry players are already well advanced in optimizing their production facilities in terms of, for example, water and energy use. Now the question arises: how can more value be obtained from the same amount of wood, i.e. what else can be made from wood?

“Our customers expect increasingly comprehensive solutions from ANDRITZ, including the utilization of production side streams. The goal is to improve competitiveness and create new earning opportunities. Challenges in the industry, such as wood availability and demand fluctuations, highlight the need for innovative growth strategies,” says Jarno Nymark.

Uncertainty slows down investments, but commitment endures

Although economic uncertainty is reflected in cautious investment, the forest industry's strong commitment to sustainable development remains unwavering. The focus is no longer on short-term hype, but on building long-term, comprehensive and innovative processes.

Many companies have a clear, phased plan for introducing new innovations: first a pilot project, then a demonstration, and only then the actual production phase. At each stage, the functionality and scalability of the new product or innovation are assessed in close cooperation with partners.

The key to the transformation of the forest industry is the utilization of side streams and the development of new bioproducts. The pulp and paper industry produces significant amounts of various side streams, the processing of which into high-value bioproducts offers enormous potential. In turn, a wide range of new products can be made from sustainably produced wood and other biomaterials.

However, it is essential to understand that there must also be demand for new bio-based products, such as lignin. This requires long value chains, where each stage from the biorefinery to further processing and end use must be economically viable or provide some other competitive advantage. Simply reducing emissions through lignin recovery is not enough to create a market.

“Chemical companies or other end users need to see clear value in using lignin – for example, cost savings, improved product properties or new innovative solutions. This creates demand for lignin and enables the emergence of long, profitable value chains for bio-based products,” illustrates Nymark.

Sustainable business is in ANDRITZ's DNA

For ANDRITZ, sustainable business is not a separate project, but an integral part of all operations. The international technology group strives to simultaneously create value for customers, individuals and the environment. In practice, this means on the one hand the responsible use of resources in its own operations and on the other hand the continuous development of technologies to support customers' resource and cost efficiency.

“In our extensive global operations – 280 locations around the world – we actively measure and monitor, among other things, energy and water consumption and the sustainability of our supply chains. Many of our production units also utilize solar panels as an energy source. Sustainability is at the core of our strategic decisions, guiding both investments and innovations,” says Nymark.

ANDRITZ has a wide range of solutions that support the forest industry's transition to a more sustainable business. The company's global BioCircleToZero initiative aims for zero emissions and zero waste while creating economic growth for customers. In the pulp and paper industry, this means, among other things, digitalization, emission reduction and utilization of side streams.

ANDRITZ's chemical recovery and recycling concept helps pulp mills recover and utilize recovery boiler side streams, such as lignin and biomethanol. An example of this is ANDRITZ's delivery of the world's first fossil-free biomethanol plant to Södra Cell's Mönsterås mill in Sweden.

"We are proud to have been selected for Business Finland's driver project. Our goal is to significantly increase the value added of wood in a sustainable way and create new business with a broad network of partners, focusing on, among other things, the development of new bioproducts and biofuels and the production of sustainable textile fibers," concludes Nymark.