From Wood and Straw to Your Wardrobe
ExpandFibre accelerates the development of sustainable bioproducts
What is ExpandFibre?
ExpandFibre is an R&D collaboration and an Ecosystem launched by Fortum and Metsä Group to accelerate the development of sustainable bioproducts. It focuses on upgrading pulp fibres, hemicellulose and lignin from renewable and sustainable sources of straw and northern wood into new bioproducts. Its ambition is to meet the growing demands for sustainable textile fibres and other added value biomaterials.
For more information on ExpandFibre, download our general presentation here.
Our Mission
ExpandFibre aims to develop ground-breaking technologies and smart business concepts that are required to convert straw and pulp fibres into novel bioproducts, such as textile fibres. The joint mission of Fortum and Metsä Group is to provide selected markets with high-volume bioproducts that have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to currently available fossil-based products.
Fortum and Metsä Group challenge other actors in the seven ExpandFibre themes to accelerate their efforts and together build a world-leading innovation ecosystem. Together we can enable new bioproducts and green businesses to reach commercial maturity.
Programmes and the Ecosystem
ExpandFibre consists of two company-led R&D Programmes and an innovation Ecosystem
Projects
- Research institutes
- Associations
- Brands
- Industry
- Clusters
- Universities
- SMEs
- Other members
ExpandFibre Programmes
50 M€ R&D entity launched and implemented by Fortum & Metsä Group and co-funded by Business Finland. In the Programmes, Fortum and Metsä work together and separately in various projects that can link with Ecosystem members and projects.
ExpandFibre Ecosystem
The Ecosystem consists of organisations and projects that join in the ExpandFibre Mission and work with ExpandFibre themes. Ecosystem projects apply their own public funding from e.g. Business Finland, EU or other funding agencies.
Projects
Research institutes
Associations
Brands
Industry
Clusters
Universities
SMEs
Other members
ExpandFibre Programmes
50 M€ R&D entity launched and implemented by Fortum & Metsä Group and co-funded by Business Finland. In the Programmes, Fortum and Metsä work together and separately in various projects that can link with Ecosystem members and projects.
ExpandFibre Ecosystem
The Ecosystem consists of organisations and projects that join in the ExpandFibre Mission and work with ExpandFibre themes. Ecosystem projects apply their own public funding from e.g. Business Finland, EU or other funding agencies.
Why Fortum and Metsä?
Both Fortum and Metsä Group aim to build new and sustainable businesses. The two companies also have long experience in developing their operations through open innovation in partner networks and ecosystems. They share a belief that joining forces will increase the probability to succeed in ground-breaking and large-scale R&D initiatives.
While their focus is on different raw materials (straw for Fortum, wood pulp for Metsä Group), both companies have multiple complementing capabilities and solutions. Both feedstocks deliver the same high standards in life cycle assessments and can be used to produce fibres for textiles, nonwovens and many other high-value products. ExpandFibre R&D will speed up innovation, decrease risks and support in building the critical mass needed to solve key challenges.
Contact