Metsä Group is demonstrating a novel way to reuse biogenic carbon dioxide from pulp production by converting it into paving stones.
At the company’s Rauma mill, CO₂ released during the pulping of Nordic wood is captured using an ANDRITZ carbon-capture pilot unit installed directly on the process line. The captured gas is compressed and transported to Rakennusbetoni- ja Elementti Oy’s concrete facility in Hollola, where it becomes a raw material in Carbonaide’s carbonation process.
At the concrete plant, the captured CO₂ is introduced into curing chambers where paving stones are formed. When the gas contacts minerals in fresh concrete, it reacts naturally and turns into a stable mineral inside the stone. This mineralization strengthens the material, allowing manufacturers to use less cement — the most carbon-intensive ingredient in concrete — while maintaining the same durability and performance.
Source: Metsä Group
The technology permanently binds biogenic CO₂ into concrete products, lowering the carbon footprint of each unit produced. The resulting paving stones look and behave like conventional ones but store captured carbon and reduce the need for virgin raw materials.
The collaboration between Metsä Group, ANDRITZ, Rakennusbetoni- ja Elementti, and Carbonaide highlights a promising use case for forest-based CO₂ and shows how bio-industry emissions can be integrated into circular, low-carbon building materials. Importantly, the carbon-capture process does not increase wood use or compromise the mill’s operational efficiency.
Looking ahead, Metsä Group is assessing the feasibility of a full-scale demonstration plant at the site. The planned unit would be capable of capturing 30,000 to 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, marking a major leap from the pilot’s current one-tonne-per-day output.
About Metsä Group
Metsä Group is a Finnish forest industry group owned by nearly 100,000 private forest owners. The company operates worldwide through its divisions: Metsä Wood (engineered wood products), Metsä Fibre (pulp), Metsä Board (paperboard and packaging), Metsä Tissue (tissue papers), and Metsä Forest (wood supply and forest services). Focused on renewable Nordic wood, the group emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and the development of low-carbon, bio-based materials.
About ANDRITZ
ANDRITZ is a global technology supplier based in Austria, providing advanced equipment and solutions for the pulp and paper industry, with a strong focus on efficiency and sustainability.
About Carbonaide
Carbonaide is a Finnish technology that uses captured CO₂ to cure concrete, turning the gas into stable minerals and reducing the need for carbon-intensive cement.
Source: Metsä Group
