​In an uncertain world, it can be helpful to prepare for various emerging outcomes. We asked Antti Kiljunen from Metsä Fibre and Risto E.J. Penttilä from the Nordic West Office consultancy firm to discuss business success factors under various scenarios.

​Established in 2011, Chemarts is a Finnish collaboration between two Aalto University schools, the School of Chemical Engineering (CHEM) and the School of Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS). At its heart, Chemarts is the study of bio-based materials and its main aim is to inspire young students from design and technical schools to get interested in wood-based fibres and to explore biomaterials together. Chemarts was also conceived to consider how design can be a strategic tool when developing new cellulose-based products or new materials.

​As demand for high-quality paper products in China and Asia increases, the partnership between Metsä Fibre and Asia Symbol is set to deepen.

​Metsä Group’s innovation company, Metsä Spring, and the Japanese Itochu Corporation, have established a joint venture to build and operate a unique test plant. The hope is that this pilot will kick-start a new revolution in future ecological textile fibre production.

​Metsä Fibre is the world’s leading supplier of bleached softwood market pulp, with an annual production capacity of around 3.25 million tonnes. Efficient and reliable logistics are a crucial part of the company’s pulp production chain. Some 62 per cent of the pulp produced by Metsä Fibre is exported.

​Since mid-2017, China’s government has moved to ban a wide range of imported waste, from scrap metals to scrap paper, upending a recycling industry that had thrived since the mid-80s, transforming the world’s rubbish into usable materials when raw materials have been cost-prohibitive.

​The expression “let’s shake on it” goes to the heart of what it means to be Finnish. We are a nation built on trust. Our word is our bond, and oral agreements may well be binding in a legal sense. We say what we mean, committing ourselves to the settled undertaking and making sure that it progresses systematically.

​As living standards in China rise, the demand for quality paper products grows.

​The year 2019 has started at full speed here in Shanghai, and I hope it will prove to be an excellent year for both us and our valued customers. As our CEO, Ismo Nousiainen, stated in the previous issue of Echo Magazine, we are focusing on excellence in our strategy.

The forests of Finland are satisfying a growing need for responsibly produced, renewable materials used in a wide variety of products. The Pro Nemus (“For the Forest”) visitor centre adjoining Metsä Fibre’s new bioproduct mill in Äänekoski provides an overview of the broad range of opportunities that the forest provides, with exhibits illustrating the bioproduct mill ecosystem, the products of the forest industry and the process of delivering them to customers around the world.

​Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring Ltd. and Japanese Itochu Corporation have established a joint venture, investing approx. EUR 40 million in building and operating a test plant to demonstrate a new technology for converting paper-grade pulp into textile fibres.

Metsä Fibre’s annual RADAR customer satisfaction survey for its pulp and biochemical customers has been completed for 2018.

​A renovation project launched in May by Metsä Fibre at its pulp mill in Kemi, northern Finland, has entered a preliminary study stage that will continue until summer 2019.

​Metsä Fibre’s vision is that our customers value us as their preferred supplier for high-quality bioproducts and services that create added value for their business. The vision is based on reliability– reliability as in being a trustworthy partner or as in performing consistently well. As we all know, trust is something that needs to be earned.

​Let me begin with a confession. I feel slightly ashamed to walk around downtown Helsinki with a plastic carrier bag nowadays, and if my shopping is small enough, then I fold up the bag and hide it under my arm. Plastic carrier bags have become rather embarrassing.

​The uptimes of all of Metsä Fibre's pulp mills are considered to be excellent as a result of effective predictive maintenance and correctly timed investments. Reliability, delivery consistency and consistent quality are ensured through long-term life-cycle planning.

​In 1845, James Cropper founded a paper manufacturing company bearing his name. Today, this prestigious paper innovator is globally renowned for supplying distinct, custom-made paper products to many of the world’s leading brands and designers. The company, carefully stewarded by 6 generations of the Cropper family, is committed to the highest standards of sustainability and was one of the first in the UK to import the special chemical pulp from what is today Metsä Fibre.

​China continues to drive the global pulp business, an industry offering huge opportunities with regards to sustainability, says Brian McClay.

​To tackle the widely-recognized global challenges, such as scarcity of resources and harmful plastic waste in oceans, the European Commission has adopted a plastic strategy with the aim to accelerate the transition to more circular economy and at the same it is updating its bioeconomy strategy to promote the use of renewable raw materials and bio-based products. Can the EU, with the innovations of companies like Metsä Fibre, find a more sustainable solution and lead the world toward lasting change?

​Delivering increasingly efficient and sustainable production processes represents an important driver of Metsä Fibre’s operations. Implementing these advanced pulp production technologies offers essential benefits to both circular economy and bioeconomy ecosystems. Metsä Fibre’s state-of-the-art Äänekoski bioproduct mill represents a textbook example of efficient and sustainable production at work.

​Collaboration with educational and research institutions is helping Metsä Fibre to gain a broader understanding of natural phenomena and future technologies, and to reach leading professionals in the field. We met up at Lappeenranta University of Technology to discuss the goals and benefits of partnership.

In line with its strategic objectives, Metsä Fibre is increasingly focusing on strengthening customer relationships, improving performance, developing its personnel and building the capacity to regenerate, says CEO Ismo Nousiainen.

​We asked all of Metsä Fibre’s Mill Managers to describe the areas of expertise of their units and their own personal strengths.

​Metsä Board’s rebranded High Yield Pulp portfolio was officially launched at the start of 2018 through Metsä Fibre’s global sales network. The project was based on extensive customer discussions and the chance to simplify the pulp offering into two well-distinguished products. Botnia High Yield BULK offers high bulk and brightness to mainly printing and writing paper grades. Botnia High Yield TENSILE provides excellent tensile strength and brightness for tissue and speciality papers.

​Metsä Fibre’s aim of continuously improving its operations is supported by certified control and management systems, related to quality, the environment, energy efficiency and safety. The systems enable, for example, tracking the origin of the wood raw material and following the logistics chain.

​Paptic is a biobased, recyclable and renewable next generation packaging material made of sustainable wood fibre. Developed by a Finnish start-up company of the same name, Paptic is suitable for uses where plastic films have previously been the only alternative.

​Introducing Wangqiu Song – Metsä Group’s recently recruited SVP, Asia and China – and his unique perspectives on both the Finnish and Asian pulp businesses. 

​Based on customer feedback and a user research project, Metsä Fibre has completely revamped their online services. Today, these services have become a holistic tool where customers can find everything they need and even download certifications to pass on to their customers. It’s all in one place – online – easily accessed 24/7 at the push of a button.  

​The business environment continually changes, and company operations must accordingly evolve to keep pace. There is always room to improve, and always an imperative to do so. Regeneration and continual improvement are no longer a choice, but a necessity and a condition for surviving in the modern era. 

​RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is an identification technology that enables efficient and reliable real time tracking of pulp deliveries. Every pulp unit leaving a Metsä Fibre mill automatically includes RFID tags that help to ensure deliveries and minimise consignment errors.

​Technological trends arising from digitalisation, such as IoT, artificial intelligence and data analytics, are having a major impact on society, the world of work and the business operations of Metsä Fibre.

​Running through May 23-25, Metsä Fibre organised a Key Customer Event in and around Äänekoski, the site of its new bioproduct mill, inviting international clients to Central Finland.

​Print is the most pervasive human interface: we write on it, read it, wear it, sit on it and even eat from it!

Common sustainability goals bring industry operators together for a memorable event.

​Li Na, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Sun Paper company, says that Metsä Fibre’s strong brand reputation, core values and product quality form the basis of a solid partnership.

​Metsä Group has established a new innovation company, Metsä Spring Ltd.

​New appointments at Metsä Fibre's mills announced.

​Metsä Fibre has launched a prefeasibility study on the renewal of its pulp mill in Kemi, with the option of either replacing the current mill or extending its life cycle.

​Delivering an increasingly sustainable supply chain represents a fundamental cornerstone of Metsä Group’s forestry operations. Enhancing efficiencies, as well as implementing stricter environmental and ecological measures in sustainable forest management, have a considerable impact on how the group adds to the circular economy.

​Any printed item can be given a digital soul by adding touch, connectivity and data, says Dr Kate Stone.

​We asked all of Metsä Fibre’s Mill Managers to describe the areas of expertise of their units and their own personal strengths.

​Metsä Board’s rebranded High Yield Pulp portfolio was officially launched at the start of 2018 through Metsä Fibre’s global sales network. The project was based on extensive customer discussions and the chance to simplify the pulp offering into two well-distinguished products. Botnia High Yield BULK offers high bulk and brightness to mainly printing and writing paper grades. Botnia High Yield TENSILE provides excellent tensile strength and brightness for tissue and speciality papers.

​Collaboration with educational and research institutions is helping Metsä Fibre to gain a broader understanding of natural phenomena and future technologies, and to reach leading professionals in the field. We met up at Lappeenranta University of Technology to discuss the goals and benefits of partnership.

​Delivering increasingly efficient and sustainable production processes represents an important driver of Metsä Fibre’s operations. Implementing these advanced pulp production technologies offers essential benefits to both circular economy and bioeconomy ecosystems. Metsä Fibre’s state-of-the-art Äänekoski bioproduct mill represents a textbook example of efficient and sustainable production at work.

​Let me begin with a confession. I feel slightly ashamed to walk around downtown Helsinki with a plastic carrier bag nowadays, and if my shopping is small enough, then I fold up the bag and hide it under my arm. Plastic carrier bags have become rather embarrassing.

​China continues to drive the global pulp business, an industry offering huge opportunities with regards to sustainability, says Brian McClay.

​To tackle the widely-recognized global challenges, such as scarcity of resources and harmful plastic waste in oceans, the European Commission has adopted a plastic strategy with the aim to accelerate the transition to more circular economy and at the same it is updating its bioeconomy strategy to promote the use of renewable raw materials and bio-based products. Can the EU, with the innovations of companies like Metsä Fibre, find a more sustainable solution and lead the world toward lasting change?

​In 1845, James Cropper founded a paper manufacturing company bearing his name. Today, this prestigious paper innovator is globally renowned for supplying distinct, custom-made paper products to many of the world’s leading brands and designers. The company, carefully stewarded by 6 generations of the Cropper family, is committed to the highest standards of sustainability and was one of the first in the UK to import the special chemical pulp from what is today Metsä Fibre.

​Metsä Fibre’s vision is that our customers value us as their preferred supplier for high-quality bioproducts and services that create added value for their business. The vision is based on reliability– reliability as in being a trustworthy partner or as in performing consistently well. As we all know, trust is something that needs to be earned.

The forests of Finland are satisfying a growing need for responsibly produced, renewable materials used in a wide variety of products. The Pro Nemus (“For the Forest”) visitor centre adjoining Metsä Fibre’s new bioproduct mill in Äänekoski provides an overview of the broad range of opportunities that the forest provides, with exhibits illustrating the bioproduct mill ecosystem, the products of the forest industry and the process of delivering them to customers around the world.

​The uptimes of all of Metsä Fibre's pulp mills are considered to be excellent as a result of effective predictive maintenance and correctly timed investments. Reliability, delivery consistency and consistent quality are ensured through long-term life-cycle planning.

​Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring Ltd. and Japanese Itochu Corporation have established a joint venture, investing approx. EUR 40 million in building and operating a test plant to demonstrate a new technology for converting paper-grade pulp into textile fibres.

​A renovation project launched in May by Metsä Fibre at its pulp mill in Kemi, northern Finland, has entered a preliminary study stage that will continue until summer 2019.

Metsä Fibre’s annual RADAR customer satisfaction survey for its pulp and biochemical customers has been completed for 2018.

In line with its strategic objectives, Metsä Fibre is increasingly focusing on strengthening customer relationships, improving performance, developing its personnel and building the capacity to regenerate, says CEO Ismo Nousiainen.

​The expression “let’s shake on it” goes to the heart of what it means to be Finnish. We are a nation built on trust. Our word is our bond, and oral agreements may well be binding in a legal sense. We say what we mean, committing ourselves to the settled undertaking and making sure that it progresses systematically.

​As living standards in China rise, the demand for quality paper products grows.

​The year 2019 has started at full speed here in Shanghai, and I hope it will prove to be an excellent year for both us and our valued customers. As our CEO, Ismo Nousiainen, stated in the previous issue of Echo Magazine, we are focusing on excellence in our strategy.

​Metsä Group’s innovation company, Metsä Spring, and the Japanese Itochu Corporation, have established a joint venture to build and operate a unique test plant. The hope is that this pilot will kick-start a new revolution in future ecological textile fibre production.

​As demand for high-quality paper products in China and Asia increases, the partnership between Metsä Fibre and Asia Symbol is set to deepen.

​Established in 2011, Chemarts is a Finnish collaboration between two Aalto University schools, the School of Chemical Engineering (CHEM) and the School of Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS). At its heart, Chemarts is the study of bio-based materials and its main aim is to inspire young students from design and technical schools to get interested in wood-based fibres and to explore biomaterials together. Chemarts was also conceived to consider how design can be a strategic tool when developing new cellulose-based products or new materials.

​Metsä Fibre is the world’s leading supplier of bleached softwood market pulp, with an annual production capacity of around 3.25 million tonnes. Efficient and reliable logistics are a crucial part of the company’s pulp production chain. Some 62 per cent of the pulp produced by Metsä Fibre is exported.

​Since mid-2017, China’s government has moved to ban a wide range of imported waste, from scrap metals to scrap paper, upending a recycling industry that had thrived since the mid-80s, transforming the world’s rubbish into usable materials when raw materials have been cost-prohibitive.

​In an uncertain world, it can be helpful to prepare for various emerging outcomes. We asked Antti Kiljunen from Metsä Fibre and Risto E.J. Penttilä from the Nordic West Office consultancy firm to discuss business success factors under various scenarios.