Fiber-X: A natural fibre replacement for plastic
Fiber-X Finland tackles climate change by developing and commercialising globally scalable plastic substitutes and bio-installation concepts using agro-fibres.
Agrofibres are usually defined as fibre sources from agriculture, such as straw, corn stover or hemp. For example, fibre from straw may in the future be the main raw material for products that are currently made from plastics.
- We are doing good for the planet while creating significant business in a carbon neutral way," says Mikko Ruuska, CEO of the company.
Fiber-X Finland serves in particular the biotech industry by providing a framework for product testing. It also provides training opportunities for companies and research opportunities for educational institutions at its pilot and training centre in Lemi.
- In piloting, we position ourselves between laboratory scale and commercial scale: helping our customers to produce rollstock for their own product development projects at a reasonable cost.
- Our customers are developing bio-based packaging materials, molecular barrier materials and new production processes, among other things," he continues.
The company has a network of more than 30 experts with expertise in the most demanding research and development projects.
- We have a proven ability to deliver demanding product development: we have been involved in developing our customers' businesses in over 100 projects since 1999.
In the next few years, Fiber-X will expand its operations to Lappeenranta, where a willow-based bioplant will be built. Willow will be used to produce antiviral chemicals, biocomposites and growing media.
The company is also planning a bioplant concept for North Ostrobothnia that will enable carbon-neutral production of biochar and viscose fibre from hemp.
- We will start to commercialise the new production globally with external partners.
Fiber-X Finland Oy is a company established in 2019 that develops alternative sources of forest-derived pulp fibre, both on its own and with its partners. The company's pilot and training centre is located in Lemi. Fiber-X Finland has a sister company in Sweden.