What is ExpandFibre?

ExpandFibre was an R&D collaboration and an Ecosystem launched by Fortum and Metsä Group to accelerate the development of sustainable bioproducts. It focused on upgrading pulp fibres, hemicellulose and lignin from renewable and sustainable sources of straw and northern wood into new bioproducts. Its ambition was to meet the growing demands for sustainable textile fibres and other added value biomaterials. ExpandFibre ecosystem & projects encompassed over 140 M€ worth of R&D steered towards developing sustainable bioproducts, supported by over 70 M€ public funding from Business Finland.

For more information on ExpandFibre, download our general presentation here.

Our Mission

ExpandFibre aimed to develop ground-breaking technologies and smart business concepts that are required to convert straw and pulp fibres into novel bioproducts, such as textile fibres. The joint mission of Fortum and Metsä Group was to provide selected markets with high-volume bioproducts that have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to currently available fossil-based products.
Fortum and Metsä Group challenged other actors in the seven ExpandFibre themes to accelerate their efforts and together build a world-leading innovation ecosystem. Together we can enable new bioproducts and green businesses to reach commercial maturity.

ExpandFibre Transition Phase 2024–2025

ExpandFibre activities ended in their current form according to plan in August 2024 due to the ending of the leading company funding from Business Finland to Metsä Group and Fortum. Metsä Group leads the ecosystem now to a Transition Phase 2024-2024, where dissemination activities concerning the ecosystem projects continue but no new organisational members are accepted. Ecosystem members are supported in finding their ways into other parallel ecosystems such as CLIC Innovation Bioeconomy theme and 4Recycling ecosystem related activities and other leading company ecosystems.