The built environment accounts for up to 42% of global carbon dioxide emissions — and part of that comes from the production of building insulation. Fiberwood addresses this challenge by developing carbon-binding, wood fibre–based materials that replace fossil-based raw materials in construction and packaging.
This ambitious goal was recognised when Fiberwood won the Silver Award in the 2025 New Wood Competition, which highlights Finland’s most significant wood-based innovations. The competition’s top prize went to Nokian Tyres and UPM for their lignin-based tyre material.
“This year’s competition particularly emphasised the use of industrial side streams. The winning lignin-based tyre material and the wood fibre insulation, which came in second, are excellent examples of this,” said Martta Fredrikson, Chair of the New Wood jury and Managing Director of the Finnish Forest Foundation.
Turning side streams into performance
Fiberwood utilises forest industry side streams and transforms them into plastic-free insulation, acoustic, and packaging materials. The company’s proprietary foam technology enables products that bind carbon, are recyclable, and eventually biodegradable.
“The construction industry needs materials that are not only ecological but also competitive in performance. This is where Fiberwood stands out: we combine industrial scalability, carbon negativity, and high technical quality,” says Tage Johansson, CEO of Fiberwood.
Fiberwood is currently building a demo plant in Järvenpää, Finland, where the company develops and tests products in collaboration with both domestic and international customers.
“The use of wood-based materials in building products is an excellent example of how Finnish innovation can accelerate the sustainable development of the entire construction sector,” commented Mari Pantsar, entrepreneur and adjunct professor, who served on the competition’s jury.
Building the future of bioeconomy
Now held for the sixth time, the New Wood Competition has established itself as a showcase of Finland’s bioeconomy. This year’s theme highlighted circular economy solutions and the use of industrial side streams — topics that are also at the very core of Fiberwood’s work.
Photos: Vilma Issakainen, Finnish Forest Association
