Metsä Group and Kemira have agreed to deepen their cooperation in developing the Kuura textile fibre. According to Niklas von Weymarn, CEO of Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring, Kemira has significant expertise relevant for the Kuura fibre’s production method.
“We strongly believe in the power of collaboration. Various strategic partnerships are also at the heart of Metsä Group’s research and development work. Kemira is a world-class expert in process chemistry, and getting it on board to develop our Kuura fibre’s production method is a major step in the right direction,” says von Weymarn.
"We are excited to deepen our collaboration with Metsä Group in the area of cellulosic textile fibers. Being selected as the chemistry partner for the production of Kuura fibre is a significant milestone for Kemira,” says Riikka Timonen, VP Commercial at Kemira’s New Ventures & Services unit.
“We deeply value Metsä Group’s pioneering role in building a more sustainable textile industry and addressing the environmental challenges across the whole value chain."
Kuura textile fibre is a new product developed by Metsä Group, in which Finnish wood is converted into a textile fibre with high added value – without fossil fuels. Such textile fibres can be used to make both clothing and a variety of technical textiles. Read more about Kuura textile fibre.
Metsä Group is developing the new Kuura textile fibre at its demo plant in Äänekoski and is currently investigating the potential for launching the Kuura business in an ongoing pre-engineering project. Designing the first mill, operating at the core of such a business, is a key part of the pre-engineering project. Two possible mill locations – Kemi and Äänekoski – are currently on the table. The potential launch of business can be assessed at the earliest in the late summer of 2026. Von Weymarn points out that discussions actually focus on three development entities: the product; the industrial production method; and the business plan.
Kemira is a long-term key partner of Metsä Group. Among other things, the companies have recently agreed to intensify their sustainability cooperation aimed at reducing the forest industry’s environmental impact. They also aim to cooperate in developing a new fossil-free raw material or product. As part of the Kuura concept, the companies are currently researching and developing solvent recovery, analytics, fibre bleaching and microbiology management in various aqueous solutions.