Metsä Group has commenced operations at its new lignin product demo plant in Äänekoski, Finland, with a nameplate capacity of 2 tons per day. The facility utilizes lignin extracted from the bioproduct mill's production process and was built in cooperation with equipment supplier Andritz.

The new lignin products, branded as Metsä LigO, aim to convert a traditional pulp production side stream into a renewable alternative for fossil-based materials. CEO of Metsä Fibre Ismo Nousiainen stated that the facility will validate both the production process and the product's market suitability, with a potential commercial-scale plant as the next step.

Dow, a materials science company, is collaborating with Metsä Group and Andritz to develop bio-based plasticisers for concrete and gypsum applications using modified lignin from the demo plant. The partnership follows previous EU-funded pilot-scale testing coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, which confirmed the lignin product's ability to replace fossil-based chemicals in construction material production.