Woodly

Woodly Oy is a Finnish materials technology company that has developed an alternative to conventional, fossil-based plastics. The company was established in 2011 by the solutions agency Seedi Oy, born from an initiative to tackle food waste through better, more ecological packaging. The founders, including Marko Parkkinen of Seedi, identified a dual problem: food waste could be reduced with more packaging, but the environmental cost of traditional plastic was too high. This led to a collaboration with the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) to explore the potential of wood. Jaakko Kaminen, with a background in marketing and communications, later joined as CEO to spearhead the company's growth, though he transitioned to an advisory role in early 2024. Martta Asikainen, who holds a PhD in organic chemistry, was brought on for her deep technical expertise and has served as CTO and later as Chief Innovation and IP Officer.

The company's core business revolves around its flagship product, Woodly®, a carbon-neutral and recyclable material derived primarily from cellulose from sustainably managed forests. Woodly operates on an asset-light business model, focusing on the patented recipe and marketing of the material rather than in-house manufacturing. Revenue is generated by selling Woodly® in granulate (or pellet) form to plastic industry partners and converters. These partners then use their existing production machinery—such as blown film, cast film, and injection molding lines—to create the final products without needing significant new capital investment. This approach allows for scalability and facilitates adoption by large brands looking to meet sustainability goals.

Woodly® is positioned as a versatile replacement for plastics in a multitude of applications. The material is transparent and shares many characteristics with traditional plastics. It is offered in different grades, including the 100 series for flexible films and thermoformed packaging, and the 200 series for injection-molded products. This makes it suitable for packaging for food, textiles, and electronics, as well as for creating reusable items like drinking glasses and various containers. The company collaborates directly with global consumer goods brands to integrate its material into their supply chains. Early commercial adoptions include packaging for baked goods, herbs, and flowers, and partnerships have been announced with companies like K-Group, HKScan, and VR Group (Finland's railway company).

Keywords: bioplastic, wood cellulose, sustainable packaging, fossil-free material, carbon-neutral plastic, recyclable material, circular economy, materials technology, food packaging, plastic alternative, bio-based polymer, injection molding material, film extrusion, thermoforming, consumer goods packaging, sustainable raw material, cleantech, greentech, advanced materials, wood-based plastic