Metsä Board, a leading European producer of sustainable fresh fibre paperboards, has found a new eco-friendly application for its industrial by-products.
The company announced that fibrous side streams from its mills will now be used as raw material for animal bedding, in collaboration with the Nordic circular economy firm Soilfood. This innovative approach exemplifies Metsä Board's commitment to reducing waste and promoting sustainability within its production processes.
According to the company’s 2030 sustainability goals, Metsä Board aims to send zero tonnes of process waste to landfills. The introduction of animal bedding made from the fibrous fractions of its paperboard production marks a significant step toward this objective. Kaisa Malinen, Quality and Environmental Manager at Metsä Board, highlighted the importance of these secondary products, stating, "Dry fibres for animal bedding are a good new example of how process waste can be a useful side stream, where valuable raw materials remain in use for longer."
The new bedding fibres are a renewable alternative to peat, which is commonly used in animal farms but is becoming increasingly scarce in Finland. This alternative, made from wood fibre by-products, has already been introduced to the market as of spring 2024 and is suitable for use with both cattle and horses. Soilfood CEO Eljas Jokinen emphasized the importance of this innovation, noting that peat availability is projected to halve in the coming years. "Developed from industrial wood fibre side streams, the new bedding is an option for producers that will also be available in the future."
In addition to providing sustainable bedding, the product can be further used as soil enrichment once it has served its purpose. The used bedding can be spread on arable land, where it enhances the soil’s carbon content, thereby contributing to carbon sequestration and environmental conservation.
As Metsä Board continues to pursue its goal of completely fossil-free mills and raw materials by 2030, this development represents a tangible step towards more sustainable and circular business practices in the forestry and paper industry.
