VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has launched an initiative aimed at revolutionising the manufacturing of fibre-based products.
Named the “Energy First” initiative, this project is set to introduce advanced, low-carbon technologies designed to drastically reduce both water and energy consumption in the production process.
With a substantial budget of approximately 20 million euros allocated over the next four years, the Energy First initiative is focused on developing energy-efficient and recyclable manufacturing technologies.
The project will establish an innovative open-access pilot line in Jyväskylä, Finland, and involves a wide array of collaborative research efforts, the organisation said in a media release.
According to the research centre, the forest industry is facing mounting challenges, including rising energy costs and fiberwood scarcity.
To address these issues, the Energy First initiative aims to create a new manufacturing process that significantly reduces water and energy usage.
Preliminary estimates suggest that the new technology could cut water consumption by up to 90% and decrease overall energy use by 50 per cent, while also contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions.
The initiative is poised to impact the production of various fiber-based products, including cardboard packaging, hygiene items, and non-woven fabrics.
“This new initiative is a pivotal step towards more sustainable and competitive fiber-based products, and has the potential for great impact, thanks to more than 50 industrial partners,” said Atte Virtanen, Vice President of Biomaterial Processing and Products at VTT.
He added, “We are excited about the prospect of 1:1 commercial projects with companies, driving innovation in energy-efficient paper board production.”
The Energy First initiative is also aligned with forthcoming EU regulations on packaging sustainability.
The new fiber-based products will be designed to integrate seamlessly with existing recycling systems and meet the EU’s packaging and packaging waste directive requirements.
The consortium, which includes significant industry players such as Valmet and Anpap, will explore various work packages closely linked to their research and development goals.
Valmet’s R&D Director, Sampo Immonen, emphasized the alignment of the project with their objectives, particularly in enhancing energy efficiency and developing novel fiber-based structures.
Anpap’s CTO, Tuukka Vihtakari, highlighted the project’s potential in advancing airlaid technology, which is known for its lower environmental impact compared to traditional wetlaid methods.
“We feel that the Energy First project is one of the first steps in unlocking the full potential of airlaid technology in sustainable single-use and durable product categories. Anpap has set the benchmark for the airlaid industry for the past 40 years, and we have a strong commitment to keep developing the technology to enable the transition to next-generation sustainable products,” he said.
Funded by the EU, ERDF, VTT, and participating companies, the initiative also engages in other EU projects such as EU SteamDry, with a total budget of 9.84 million euros over 3.5 years.
