Metsä Board said that its paper mills' fibrous fractions from the production of paperboard grades such as folding boxboards, food service boards and white kraftliners can now be used as raw materials for animal bedding.
Metsä Board explained that Soilfood, a Nordic circular economy company, studies the utilisation of fibrous side streams from Metsä Board's mills and has identified a new use as raw material in animal bedding. Increasing the added value of secondary products made from side streams is a circular economy where raw materials are kept in use as long as possible.
"One of Metsä Board's 2030 sustainability targets is 0 metric tons process waste to landfill," said Kaisa Malinen, Quality and Environmental Manager at Metsä Board. "Together with our partners we work to find new uses for the waste generated in our production.
"Dry fibres for animal bedding are a good new example of how process waste can be a useful side stream, where valuable raw materials remain in use for longer," Malinen added.
Metsä Board pointed out that new types of bedding fibres are a renewable alternative to peat commonly used in animal farms in Finland, the availability of which will decrease in the coming years. The first products were introduced to the market in spring 2024.
Soilfood's CEO Eljas Jokinen, said, "The availability of peat is projected to halve in the coming years. Developed from industrial wood fibre side streams, the new bedding is an option for producers that will also be available in the future. It has the characteristics of conventional bedding and is suitable for both cattle and horses."
After use, the bedding can be spread on arable land, increasing the soil's carbon stock. Similar wood fibre-based raw materials developed by Soilfood are already used as soil improvement fibres.
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