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Vollebak has created a wooden jacket prototype, a fashion piece with a hood made of flexible timber arranged in tiny grids. The wooden jacket is complete with zippers and two exterior pockets. There’s also a hood, also made of timber. From afar, the Vollebak prototype looks like a tree trunk or a freshly varnished plank. Sources: Design Boom, Timberbiz The design team captured the look of a tree’s growth rings all over the prototype. They also reposition the timber grids so that these natural wood lines are not uniform or don’t look all horizontal or vertical. So far, Vollebak’s Wooden Jacket is still a prototype. There’s no news yet on when it will launch The company says it went ahead with the experiment because turning a tree into a jacket is an absurdly difficult technical challenge. It’s all about the technical feat vs the performance advantage of the material. It builds innovation muscle as it’s just so hard. It’s the equivalent of Daniel-San and Mr Miyagi practising the crane kick on the beach in The Karate Kid with no opponent in sight The design team embeds the cut-up slabs of timber onto a fabric, which makes up the interior of the jacket. In this way, the clothing can freely move and isn’t stiff. On the breast part of the fashion piece, there are two semi-hidden zippers on both sides. They can be extra pockets for the users, just above the two ample exterior ones. Visible lines divide the Vollebak’s Wooden Jacket prototype. These allow for the material to bend and be flexible when the users move around and stretch. The design team has yet to unveil the technical details of the Wooden Jacket. So far, they say that the prototype is a way for them to tackle and then solve what would otherwise remain ‘completely theoretical.’

The Finnish forest products sector plays a crucial role in the global pulp, paper, and forest products market. Its unique landscape is shaped by sustainability objectives, evolving market dynamics, and international regulations. Source: ResourceWise Understanding and staying up to date on what’s going on in various regions is crucial to staying competitive. Below is a high-level overview of different elements shaping the Finnish market. The Finnish forest industry is experiencing mixed economic conditions. The sector has seen an increase in sawn softwood production, with a 4% year-on-year growth in 2024. Metsä’s Kemi pulp mill has been ramping up, keeping the wood markets busy. Exports have also strengthened, and roundwood purchasing volumes have risen by 17%. However, the market remains volatile. Despite increased production, profitability is still fragile due to higher costs and price pressures. Stora Enso’s packaging board investments are ongoing in Oulu, putting more pressure on the roundwood market in the long term. At the same time, Finland’s economy is expected to recover slowly, with GDP growth projected at only 0.8% in 2025 after contracting in 2024. But the broader economic uncertainty in the Eurozone and the US trade policies may continue impacting Finnish forest product exports. Finland’s ambitious target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035 faces increasing challenges. According to recent reports, Finnish forests, which traditionally served as carbon sinks, have turned into carbon sources since 2021. Factors such as rising logging rates, emissions from drained peatland forests, and reduced soil carbon sequestration have contributed to this shift. Additionally, about 90% of Finland’s tree growth is now consumed by logging and natural mortality, a significant increase from earlier decades. This reality raises concerns about the feasibility of offsetting other sector emissions through forest carbon sinks alone. The European Union’s Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) regulations pose further pressure on Finland. If the country fails to meet carbon sequestration targets, it may have to purchase emission allowances, adding financial strain. Many EU nations also struggle with these targets, so the regulatory landscape remains uncertain. Several major companies in the Finnish forest industry are undergoing organizational changes. Stora Enso has reported EUR 724 million in non-cash impairments due to reduced long-term cash flow projections. Metsä Board is shutting down the Tako Board Mill in Tampere, impacting 215 jobs while expanding capacity at its Husum mill in Sweden. On a brighter note, investments in sustainability-focused financing are ongoing. Metsäliitto Cooperative has recently obtained a EUR 200 million revolving credit facility linked to sustainability goals. This credit underscores the organization’s dedication to environmentally friendly operations. Bioenergy continues to be a critical component of Finland’s renewable energy strategy. The share of wood dry matter used for energy has steadily increased, reaching 61% in 2023. Most of this comes from forest industry by-products such as bark, black liquor, and recycled wood. However, the market for energy wood is showing signs of cooling. Milder winter temperatures have led to lower consumption at heating plants, increasing stockpiles. Additionally, energy companies’ investments in electric boilers and heat pumps may reduce the future demand for wood-based energy sources. Despite these challenges, Finland remains a major bioenergy consumer, with bioenergy accounting for 38% of its total energy consumption and 74% of its renewable energy use. Future Outlook: Challenges and Opportunities The Finnish forest industry faces a complex landscape of regulatory pressures, shifting energy demands, and economic headwinds. While increased bioenergy adoption and wood product exports offer opportunities, concerns over carbon neutrality, rising costs, and market volatility remain significant hurdles.

CBI has launched its ChipMax 364T Whole Tree Chipper, an industrial woodchipper built from the ground up with input from forestry and wood waste professionals. Source: Timberbiz Designed to excel in real-world applications, including land clearing, biomass production, pulp and paper, forestry and wood processing, mulch production, and landscaping, the ChipMax 364T is a solution for operators seeking high-performance chipping with low maintenance costs. Powered by either a 755hp or 550hp engine, the ChipMax 364T Whole Tree Chipper features an improved chute geometry, enhancing chip throw for more efficient trailer packing. A standard chip accelerator optimizes performance by providing consistent output across varying chip sizes. Additionally, the service platform next to the engine provides a convenient space for routine maintenance, simplifying oil checks and upkeep for operators. The ChipMax 364T also offers flexibility with two rotor options alongside the innovative CBI rotor design, which allows for quick and easy rotor swaps. This makes it simple to adjust chip sizes for operators to produce a range of materials as needed, from consistent micro-chips to larger 30mm chips, catering to diverse market demands. “From design to execution, the ChipMax 364T Whole Tree Chipper embodies simplicity and reliability,” said George Wilcox, Sales and Marketing Director at CBI. “We’ve listened to the needs of our customers and created a machine that maximizes efficiency while keeping operations straightforward and cost-effective.”