Forest Products Industry

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.”

Lodgepole pine – a wilding conifer considered one of New Zealand’s worst weeds has evolved to grow and spread faster there than it does in its native North America. Source: Timberbiz A Scion study, the focus of a New Zealand Journal of Ecology article seeks to understand why, to help inform strategies for addressing the problem. This study is part of Scion’s Vive la résistance program, which started in 2021 and has NZ$12.85 million in funding through the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour fund. The study investigated cone and seed traits of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) from several major invasion sites across NZ compared with its native range. The comparison across six sites showed the average number of filled seeds per cone was 74 – at least three times higher than that recorded in its native range and about 50% higher than previous NZ estimates. Scion’s researchers predict this increase in the number of seeds has likely enhanced the invasion success of lodgepole pine by allowing it to spread quickly and overwhelm ecosystems. “The average number of seed scales per cone is similar between NZ and the native range,” Scion invasion ecologist and article lead author Tom Carlin says. “Therefore, we suggest this trait shift towards a greater seed holding capacity may be due to an increase in the proportion of fertile scales. “This demonstrated trait shift is unsurprising given lodgepole pine has fewer natural enemies in New Zealand, thrives in our growing conditions and has potentially produced more invasive hybrids since its introduction.” Some sites were found to have produced fewer seeds, such as Craigieburn near Christchurch, where the national wilding conifer control program has had some success in removing pollen-producing individuals. “Keeping the number of pollen-producing adults low slows population spread as seeds don’t get fertilised,” Mr Carlin says. In North America, lodgepole pine has specialist seed predators such as squirrels and crossbills which put pressure on cone defences. Those predators are not present in NZ, which could have allowed the trees to dedicate more resources to producing seeds rather than investing in cone defences. Lodgepole pine is not a forestry species in NZ and is not actively planted. Wilding conifers (non-natives) are estimated to affect over 1.7 million ha of productive and conservation lands in NZ (Ministry for Primary Industries, 2015, p.9). Their rapid growth and spread poses a significant threat to ecosystems worldwide by outcompeting native species, increasing fire risk, supporting invasive mammal populations, reducing water yields and limiting future economic land uses. Scion’s VLR program works alongside New Zealand’s National Wilding Conifer Control Program (NWCCP), which aims to contain and eradicate wilding conifers and prevent their future spread. Existing populations of wildings are being treated but cleared land is being re-invaded. For the NWCCP to be successful it is critical to develop effective strategies to create long-term resistance to re-invasion on treated land. Scion scientists Matthew Scott and Thomas Paul co-authored the journal article.

Temporary housing for people displaced by natural disasters could become cheaper, lighter and more sustainable with innovative new timber-cardboard construction panels developed by University of Queensland researchers. Source: Timberbiz The panels are 50% lighter than a previous design but retain the same strength, according to a new paper by structural engineering PhD candidate Mahmoud Abu-Saleem and Associate Professor Joe Gattas, both from UQ’s School of Civil Engineering. Dr Gattas said extensive use of cardboard reduces the cost and environmental impact of the panels, meaning builders of temporary housing are less exposed to the shortages and soaring costs of traditional construction materials. “Cardboard is one of the most highly recycled materials for packaging in Australia,” he said. “There’s no impact on waste generated and no increase in resource consumption. You’re essentially extending the service life of that material before it gets recycled again.” The timber-cardboard web-core sandwich (TCWS) panels consist of thin timber facings separated by cardboard studs and air pockets. They were introduced in the research paper as a development of timber-cardboard sandwich (TCS) panels, which featured a solid monolithic cardboard core. Lab testing found the TCWS panels were 50% lighter than the TCS panels and just as strong, or stronger, for their weight. The TCWS panels were also 33% stronger than similar foam or bio-based panels. Dr Gattas said introducing the air gap helped reduce the weight, so two people can comfortably handle the panels. “The panels are intended for short-term use, possibly for temporary housing or granny flats for people displaced by natural disasters,” he said. “The fact they are lighter means they will be easier to lift and fit together quickly in a post-disaster scenario, where temporary structures are in high demand. “We need systems that suit short-term use cases as there’s a lot of need for this class of accommodation in Australia, and internationally.” The panels have been used in a prototype ‘cardboard house’ constructed at UQ’s Pinjarra Hills Research Facility and have held up well to the wet Queensland summer. The researchers have kept the elements at bay by incorporating the same principles used for timber-clad homes – including substantial eaves, often seen on iconic Queenslander-style homes. Mr Abu-Saleem said while replacing some of the monolithic cardboard in the TCS with the air gaps reduced the weight, this could also reduce the insulation effectiveness of the panels. “This could be addressed in future by adding another waste material like paper into the air gaps to improve their insulation properties,” he said. The research paper is published in Structures.