Forest resources in circular systems

In a unique collaborative project, raw material owners, converters, customers, universities and authorities work together to recover forest's resources, and reduce the use of fossil resources

The nutrients and minerals that trees take up as they grow, accumulate in sludge and ash at pulp mills. Today, soil acidification is counteracted by liming and the forest is fertilized with mineral fertilizer. In order to reduce the use of fossil products, the cycle should be closed and sludge and ashes should be seen as useful resources.

By processing the sludge into hydrochar and mixing it with ash, a new product is created that can fertilize and alkalize forest soil or be used as growth media and fertilizer in nurseries.

We want to develop technology and investigate environmental effects in soil and nurseries, opportunities and obstacles before the product can be used on a large scale and whether there are business opportunities when residual products are recycled and the cycle is closed.