The principles of Metsä Fibre's operations include resource efficiency: the wood raw material is utilized as accurately and efficiently as possible so that nothing is wasted. Valuable biochemicals, tall oil and turpentine, produced from the side streams of pulp production, are important natural raw materials that can replace fossil-based products in many industrial processes.
Resource efficiency and renewable raw materials
At the heart of our business are responsible wood sourcing, the efficient use of raw materials and the goal of completely fossil fuel free operations by 2030. We contribute to the European Union's circular economy goals and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
We only source wood from responsibly managed forests. This ensures the regeneration of forests and the preservation of biodiversity. Approximately 95% of the wood raw material we use is certified and all the wood meets the requirements for controlled wood.
Forests and wood-based products have a unique ability to capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Unlike many other bio-based raw materials, trees do not need to clear a separate area of land and do not take up land intended for food production.
Biochemicals from high-quality northern wood are important natural raw materials that can replace fossil-based products in many industrial processes.
Leading biochemical producer
Metsä CTO crude tall oil and Metsä CST crude sulphate turpentine are produced at all Metsä Group's Finnish and Swedish pulp and bioproduct mills. In pulp production, tall oil is produced as a by-product of the processing of wood chips and hot solvents. Turpentine is obtained from northern pine and spruce chips by exhausting the chips.
Turpentine is a good example of the circular economy and the utilisation of side streams into high value-added products, as the turpentine further processed product can be used as a fragrance and flavour component even in the most demanding end uses, such as perfumes.
Tall oil and turpentine, further refined, can be used in many applications, such as specialty chemical products, cleaning products, cosmetics and even in the food industry.
We are responding to the increased demand
Globally, the demand for crude tall oil and crude turpentine exceeds the supply many times over. The growth in demand is driven by a desire to reduce the use of fossil raw materials and to increase the use of renewable and recyclable bio-based raw materials.
Our wood-based biochemicals very well meet quality and sustainability standards, especially when compared to fossil raw materials.
We develop products in close cooperation with our customers to ensure that they meet their requirements in terms of end product features. With our biochemicals, our customers can promote the bioeconomy, replace fossil raw materials with renewable compounds, and develop new responsible products and solutions.
