Soilfood, a Nordic circular economy company, studies the utilisation of fibrous side streams from Metsä Board's mills and has identified a new use as raw material in animal bedding. Increasing the added value of secondary products made from side streams is a circular economy where raw materials are kept in use as long as possible.

Metsä Board's mills manufacture high-quality fresh fibre paperboards focusing on lightweight and high-quality folding boxboards, food service boards and white kraftliners. The mills' fibrous fractions from the production of these products, can now be used as raw materials for animal bedding.

"One of Metsä Board's 2030 sustainability targets is 0 tonnes process waste to landfill. 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," says Kaisa Malinen, Quality and Environmental Manager at Metsä Board.

New types of bedding fibres are a renewable alternative to peat commonly used in animal farms in Finland, the availability of which will decrease in the coming years. The first products were introduced to the market in spring 2024.

"The availability of peat 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. It has the characteristics of conventional bedding and is suitable for both cattle and horses," says Soilfood's CEO Eljas Jokinen.

After use, the bedding can be spread on arable land, increasing the soil's carbon stock. Similar wood fibre-based raw materials developed by Soilfood are already used as soil improvement fibres. The raw materials for these products are a result of the excellent cooperation between Soilfood and Metsä Board.

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