Metsä Spring, the innovation company of Metsä Group, has started pre-engineering project for the first commercial factory to produce Muoto, new wood fibre packaging products.  

The Muoto products, crafted from wood pulp, are designed to replace traditional plastic packaging.  

The technology behind Muoto allows for the direct conversion of wet wood pulp into three-dimensional packages, which can be ready for dispatch to customers.  

In addition to ease of moulding into different shapes, Muoto is light weight, and has strength and recyclability. 

It can be used for light takeaway and lunch packages, berry containers, trays, and combo packaging.  

Expected to conclude early next year, the pre-engineering phase will provide the company with conditions of factory planning to decide on the factory investment. 

Based on the result of pre-engineering and the ongoing trial at a unique demo plant in Äänekoski, Finland, Metsä Group will evaluate the feasibility of launching a new business line and investing in a factory to support that business. 

The company has already selected its Rauma site in Finland as the potential location for the factory.  

Metsä Spring CEO Niklas von Weymarn said: “Taking an idea to industrial scale is a long road with multiple different phases. Deciding to start the pre-engineering project is a big milestone for us. Although many areas still need further development, we have now gathered enough proof to initiate this very important factory planning stage. 

“The Muoto project has reached this point very quickly, considering that the project started almost from scratch for us in 2020. A big thank you goes to our project team and our main partner Valmet,” 

This announcement comes after Metsä Spring appointed Veli-Pekka Kyllönen as project director to lead the pre-engineering phase earlier this year. 

Veli-Pekka Kyllönen's team, which is currently being recruited, will consist of five to ten experts. 

In March 2024, Metsä Board announced that it will not carry on with the planned investment in its Kaskinen folding boxboard mill in Finland.