Designing an Engineering Project for Wood Fiber Packaging Products

Muoto Technology Converts Wet Wood Pulp into Sustainable Packaging

Metsä Group’s innovation company, Metsä Spring, is embarking on a pre-engineering project for the first commercial factory to produce Muoto, a revolutionary packaging solution made from wood. Muoto offers a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging by utilizing wet wood pulp to create 3-dimensional packages without any intermediate steps.

The pre-engineering phase will set the stage for factory planning, with a decision on the factory investment expected by early 2025. The project’s progress will be assessed based on the outcomes of pre-engineering and the ongoing demo phase using a unique plant in Finland’s Äänekoski. If successful, the new factory to support Muoto production will be located at Metsä Group’s Rauma site.

Niklas von Weymarn, CEO of Metsä Spring, expresses excitement about reaching this milestone, acknowledging the hard work of the project team and partners like Valmet. The technology behind Muoto enables the production of lightweight, strong, and recyclable packaging ready for distribution to end customers. Initial product offerings may include takeaway containers, berry packaging, trays, and combo packaging, with additional products to follow once EU regulations are finalized.

To lead the pre-engineering project, Veli-Pekka Kyllönen has been appointed as Project Director, with plans to assemble a team of 5-10 experts. Recruitment for the project team is currently underway, marking a significant step towards bringing Muoto technology to a commercial scale.