The new wave of economy: from fossil to bio-based

The sustainable bioeconomy will help us save natural resources. It is based on the wise, resource-efficient use of renewable natural resources and recyclable materials.

“Our welfare society is a great achievement, and it has been driven by the fossil economy. However, this culture of disposability has come to its end,” says Niklas von Weymarn, CEO of Metsä Spring, Metsä Group’s new innovation company.

Climate change is a severe threat, and is a direct consequence of our use of fossil raw materials. “The bioeconomy offers a solution to these global issues. It enables us to replace fossil materials with sustainable alternatives and stop climate change – if we act smartly,” von Weymarn continues.

The bioeconomy offers a solution to global issues. It enables us to replace fossil materials with sustainable alternatives and stop climate change – if we act smartly.

NIKLAS VON WEYMARN | METSÄ SPRING

Finland is one of the best places for the bioeconomy

Good bioeconomy operations arise in places with genuinely renewable materials – places like Finland. “Finland is one of the best places for the bioeconomy,” says Niklas von Weymarn. Forests cover 80 per cent of Finland’s total area, and we use our forests in a genuinely sustainable manner: our forests grow faster than they are harvested.

Metsä Group leads the way in the sustainable, resource-wise bioeconomy. We are creating well-being around us – respecting the environment. “Metsä Group is owned by more than 100,000 Finnish forest owners. They take good care of the valuable raw material that is used in the bioeconomy,” says von Weymarn.

“We make use of this sustainably grown wood raw material in increasingly valuable ways, and we manufacture products with genuinely lower impact on the environment, that are replacing fossil raw materials,” he continues.

The many lives of materials

In the sustainable bioeconomy, natural resources are not wasted. Natural resources are used efficiently, and are not consumed in excess of what our planet can produce.

“Resource efficiency is key to all operations. All materials, whether fossil or renewable, must be used wisely where they produce the highest added value and benefits,” says Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen, Senior Vice President, Business Development at Metsä Fibre.

The reuse of raw materials is also typical of the bioeconomy – and the forest industry is the best industrial sector to reuse materials. “Resource wisdom is about giving a second and perhaps even a third life to valuable materials, meaning that materials are recycled and will not be used for renewable energy until the very end,” says Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen.

Resource efficiency is key to all operations. All materials, whether fossil or renewable, must be used wisely where they produce the highest added value and benefits.

KAIJA PEHU-LEHTONEN | METSÄ FIBRE