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ANDRITZ BioCircleToZero program sees new development projects

In a vital effort to double the value of wood being utilized at pulp mills, last year ANDRITZ launched the BioCircleToZero program. The initiative is already gaining significant pace with three ongoing development projects launched: SAUNA, H₂ELP, and CirBRes.

The five-year initiative, led by ANDRITZ and supported by Business Finland, has been set up to encourage cooperation and R&D efforts with companies, research institutions, and universities working in the field of forest products development. Johan Engström, Chief Technology Officer at ANDRITZ Finland says, “We simply have to get more value out of wood by burning less and increasing pulp yield by utilizing side streams such as lignin and biomethanol or creating high value bioproducts such as fiber-based textiles.

“The BioCircleToZero program, with its intense combined innovation and effort, can realistically see a doubling of the value of wood into the future.”

The three ongoing development projects accelerating the BioCircleToZero program:

CirBRes – GLOBAL CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE BIOPRODUCTS

The mission is to facilitate international collaboration and exchange of knowledge to advance the bioeconomy sector. Through collaborative research in fundamental science and engineering, as well as economic, environmental, and social assessments of future biocomposite products, the GCSB seeks to promote sustainable and inclusive bioeconomy practices.

Åbo Akademi and other universities in Finland have the project lead, and several international partners are involved, including leading Veturi companies such as ANDRITZ, Mirka, and Nokian Tyres, as well as Stora Enso and Boreal Bioproducts.

“Our mission is to create high value bioproducts across value chains and to bring new products to the market. We believe the CirBRes project will go some way to support this journey.”

Naveen Chenna

Director Research & Innovations, Pulp & Power, ANDRITZ

H₂ELP – H₂ PRODUCTION LIFETIME AND PERFORMANCE EXTENSION

H₂ELP is a research and innovation project aimed at reducing the levelized cost of hydrogen and methanol production by improving system performance, lifetime, and operational practices under dynamic Nordic conditions.

The project is carried out together with the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and industrial partners, including Vaisala and Fortum, which combine research expertise with real pilot and laboratory environments. Through hands-on collaboration across the hydro¬gen value chain, H₂ELP supports faster deployment of commercially viable hydrogen and Power-to-X solutions. The project is part of the Veturi Co-Innovation initiative funded by Business Finland.

“In H₂ELP, lowering the levelized cost of product is a critical enabler for accelerating the large-scale deployment of green hydrogen and its derivatives, strengthening their competitiveness, and enabling wider, faster market adoption.”

Thomas Kohl

Technology Director Renewable Fuels, ANDRITZ

“The targeted outcome for a SAUNA project is a scalable technical solution for a sustainable biorefinery with integrated pollution prevention and monitoring strategies covering air, noise, water, and soil.”

Markus Paananen

Manager Fiberline Technology R&D, ANDRITZ

PARTNERS ARE KEY

Through these projects, the BioCircleToZero initiative is clearly making rapid progress toward more sustainable and valuable use of forest resources.
Kari Tuominen, CEO of ANDRITZ Finland says, “This is an extremely important initiative. At ANDRITZ we have always been known for developing innovative new technology that is well received by our customers.

“Although we are leading the BioCircleToZero program, our partners are key in any new development that enables the creation of added value from wood.”

CircleToZero: Working Together on Sustainable Targets

Interview with Naveen Chenna, Head of Business and Technology Development, ANDRITZ

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ANDRITZ FOR THE CHANGE

We enable the green transition

When speaking of our environment, climate crisis, environmental pollution and resource scarcity are three of the most pressing challenges of our time. And time is the crucial factor here: the world needs to change – now. We all need to change.

What is the ANDRITZ BioCircleToZero program ?

The ANDRITZ BioCircleToZero program is a five-year innovation initiative led by ANDRITZ and supported by Business Finland. Its goal is to increase the value generated from wood resources by improving pulp yield, reducing the need to burn biomass, and creating new high-value bioproducts from side streams such as lignin and biomethanol. Through collaboration with industrial partners, research institutes, and universities, the program aims to accelerate the development of sustainable forest-based products and technologies.

Which development projects are currently driving the BioCircleToZero initiative?

Three major projects are currently advancing the BioCircleToZero program:

CirBRes focuses on international collaboration and research to develop sustainable bioproducts and strengthen the bioeconomy.
H₂ELP aims to lower the cost of hydrogen and methanol production by improving system performance, lifetime, and operational practices.
SAUNA is developing an innovative pulping process that increases product yields while reducing emissions and supporting zero-waste, zero-pollution biorefinery operations.

Together, these projects support more efficient use of wood resources and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Why are partnerships important for the success of BioCircleToZero?

Partnerships are a key element of the BioCircleToZero program because solving complex sustainability challenges requires expertise from across industry, academia, and research organizations. By combining knowledge, technology, and innovation capabilities, partners can accelerate the development of new solutions that create greater value from wood resources, improve environmental performance, and bring sustainable bioproducts to market faster.