Fibrous side streams from Metsä Board’s mills will be used as a raw material to produce bedding for farm animals – then spread on arable land to increase the soil’s carbon stock – in a new collaboration with Soilfood.
Metsä Board produces lightweight folding boxboards, white kraftliners, food service boards, and other fresh fibre paperboards at its mills. This results in fibrous fractions that are now anticipated to serve as a renewable replacement for peat in animal bedding applications.
Peat is frequently used at Finnish animal farms, but its availability is expected to decrease in the future. On the other hand, dry fibres can be spread on arable land after use, which should increase the soil’s carbon stock.
Wood fibre-based raw materials developed by Solifood are already used as soil improvement fibres in another collaboration with Metsä Board.
“One of Metsä Board’s 2030 sustainability targets is 0 tonnes process waste to landfill,” says Kaisa Malinen, Quality and Environmental manager at Metsä Board. “Together with our partners we work to find new uses for the waste generated in our production.
“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 availability of peat is projected to halve in the coming years,” adds Soilfood CEO Eljas Jokinen. “Developed from industrial wood fibre side streams, the new bedding is an option for producers that will also be available in the future. It has the characteristics of conventional bedding and is suitable for both cattle and horses.”
Metsä Group’s innovation arm, Metsä Spring, entered various other partnerships last year to repurpose side streams. Its work with Fiberwood sought to turn side streams of the mechanical wood industry into insulation and packaging materials, such as cushioning and protection sheets; and it also funded Montinutra’s efforts to upscale its conversion of forest industry side streams into natural biochemicals for the chemical and cosmetics sectors.
More recently, Nampak Liquid Cartons, Fibre Circle, and Infinite Industries joined forces to produce roof sheets from recycled cartons; these have been used by the SPCA Roodepoort Krugersdorp to create safer, more comfortable shelters for animals in South Africa.
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