Metsä Group has commenced pre-engineering for its first commercial Kuura textile fiber mill, marking a significant step towards industrial-scale production.
The initiative aims to transform Finnish softwood pulp into high-value textile fibers.
The pre-engineering phase, expected to last until summer 2026, includes mill design, process development, market entry preparation, and financing tasks. An environmental permit application is also part of the project.
Kuura fiber, produced without fossil fuels, offers a sustainable alternative for clothing and technical textiles. A recent study highlights its significantly lower climate impact compared to competing fibers.
Metsä Group's development of Kuura began with a demo plant in Äänekoski, Finland, in 2020. Following upgrades, testing is progressing well. A pre-study on a commercial mill, initiated a year ago, yielded positive results, prompting this advancement.
“According to a recent study, the global warming impact of Kuura fibre is significantly lower than that of competing products when life-cycle emissions are taken into account,” said Niklas von Weymarn, CEO of Metsä Spring.
The pre-engineering project will assess the viability of the Kuura business. If approved, the mill, potentially starting in Finland no earlier than 2029, would employ approximately 250 people and produce 100,000 tonnes of fiber annually.
Metsä Group is rooted in the Finnish forest, with its parent company, Metsäliitto Cooperative, owned by over 90,000 forest owners. The company produces wood products, pulp, and paper used in everyday life worldwide, focusing on sustainable, innovative forestry.
