Fiberwood

Based in Järvenpää, Finland, Fiberwood is a materials technology company established in 2019 to address the demand for sustainable building and packaging materials. The company originated from customer projects at VTT, a leading European research institution, and the ingenuity of brothers Jukka and Jyri Pitkälä, who sought an ecological alternative to mineral wool and plastic insulation for their wooden house manufacturing business. They aimed to solve the long-standing issue of sawdust compaction in insulation. The company is led by CEO Tage Johansson, who brought crucial development and business expertise to the firm. Another key figure is Karita Kinnunen-Raudaskoski, a pioneer in foam-forming technology whose doctoral research forms the basis of Fiberwood's production process.

Fiberwood's business model is centered on upcycling side streams from the mechanical wood industry, such as sawdust and wood chips, into high-value, fossil-free products. The company serves the construction and packaging industries, offering environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional materials like mineral wool and plastic-based cushioning. Revenue generation will stem from the sale of these proprietary insulation boards and packaging materials. Fiberwood is currently engaged in product development with strategic customers and plans to commence commercial production in 2025, with a full factory-scale production line anticipated around 2027.

The core of Fiberwood's offering is its innovative use of foam-forming technology. This process uses a water-air mixture to transport wood fibers, enabling the creation of 100% recyclable and biodegradable insulation and packaging boards. This method is energy-efficient and allows for the use of a wide range of natural and recycled fibers. The resulting products are breathable, compostable, and designed to sequester carbon, directly challenging traditional, less sustainable materials. To scale its operations, Fiberwood has secured significant funding, including a €7.7 million round in May 2024 from investors like Metsä Spring and Stephen Industries, and a €3.1 million EU grant in June 2025. This capital is being used to build a demonstration production line to finalize the product concept and ensure industrial scalability.

Keywords: wood fiber insulation, sustainable packaging, foam-forming technology, circular economy, cleantech, green building materials, construction technology, forestry side streams, bio-based materials, fossil-free, upcycling, wood industry, recyclable materials, biodegradable insulation, carbon sequestration, VTT, Metsä Spring, Stephen Industries, Tage Johansson, Jukka Pitkälä, Jyri Pitkälä